The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-10
FAVORED BY LABOR LEADERS
Opposing Interests Advised to Talk
Out Instead of Fighting
Out Differences.

ACAu COulSuI d. COOp0r MO TO Tur
the movement inaugurated at the con
ference on Tuesday, to form a nationa.
board of arbitration.
The committee on Cancellation AND
arbitration gave out it's report. The re
port says that the purpose of the or
ganlzation is to enter into active SER
vice in the cause of peace and har.
mony in the Industrial world, for the
purpose of preventing strikes and
lockouts. The representatives advo-
cate full and frank conferences be.
tween employers and workihgmen
with the avowed purpose of reaching
agreements as to terms of employ
ment. It further says it's aim is to es-
tablish n maintain a board or COM
mission composed of the most compe-
tent persons available, selected from
the employers and employees of judg-
ment, experience and reliability, which
shall be charged with carrying out
the objects aimed at, and shall also
be expected to make known to work.
men and their employers that their
counsel and aid will be available, if
desired, in securing that
ton, mutual understanding and agree
ment already indicated as the general
purpose Of me National association.
John Mitchell the first speaker, was
greeted with applause and cheers. He
said:
THE impression may have gone
forth that l stand for turmoil and
war rather than for peace, but know
ing the %sufferings and hardships of
turmoil and war, | stand for peace, if
it can be honorable peace. l do not
presume that this conference has
solved the labor problem, but l be-
lieve that the plan agreed upon Tues
day will do much to prevent strikes
and lockouts.
have occurred could have been avoided
it employers and representatives of
labor organizations had conferenced.
We have learned from the bituminous
coal operators and miners how to get
together and talk out our difference
instead of fighting them out. Twelve
men on each side met last year and
in eleven days fxea the wages of
100000 men and a year before the
same number raised the wages of the
miners to the extent of 1000, 900.
Il know there are those who believe
there can be nothing in. common be-
tween capital and labor. To these II
say that the work of this conciliating
committee will show that there is
much between them for the good of
both"
Samuel Gompers, president of the
Federation of Labor, prefaced his re-
marks by stating that those who are
braggarts continually declaring war,
are usually towards in the actual
struggle. "a strong man. said he,
does not boast of his power because
he knows with power comes respon-
slblllty. There was a time when or
ganiZation of labor was tabooed and
doors were shut in the face of the man
who held a card in a union. That Jay
is past. If we entertain hope for our
selves, our children or our country,
We must organize. A long time the
idea was held that all wealth must
be extinguished. There is no account
ing for it, but some have so far hidden
good bye to their reason as to applaud
the cause that wealth should be ex-
tinguished.
"We want justice and nothing else.
Employers have found the trades
union element so costly that they want
peace as well as we."
We want force" yelled a man who
had furnished previous Interruptions
and many in the audience cheered.
Charles Sprague Smith came for
ward and raising his hand called
sharply for order. When he coulu
make himself heard, he saiu: Social
lists have had their turn and we will
let them have it again, but now l ask
for order. l ask this little group of
socialists to hold themselves in"
Gompers struggled through a num-
Der of further interruptions and fin.
ally got a hearing for his views as to
TT will be a choice" he said, "be-
tween voluntary arbitration and com
pulsory arbitration, where the Jail
will await those who will not work
under a settlement ordered by the
Our experience Of courts have
not been such as to warrant us in
our industrial interests in the
hands of the gentlemen who preside
IN the bench"
William H. Sayward, secretary Of the
National Association of Builders,
spoke of the obstacles encountered in
work in which he had been en-
Jagged to bring employers and en-
,loyes together on amicable terms.
lie saw light and felt confident that
he plans devised by the committee
I consultation Of the National Civic
would bear fruit in the
rawing together of capital and labor
nd the prevention of strikes. |
Herman Justi. commissioner of ILL +
oils Coal Operators association spoke /
[ the principal results achieved by
1e policy of Cancellation in the btu +
linous coal fields and OF the peace {
nd happiness that prevailed in a re- 4
ion formerly devastated by bitter la Il