Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-20
BY CONFERENCES.
THUS MAY LABOR AND CAPITAL BE
MADE HARMONIOUS.

II. w. HOyt, President of National
Founders Association, Tells How
His Organization of Employers Has
Met thc Iron MoIders' Union.
The industrial problems, so called,
must be adjusted along the line of least
resistance, and the line of least resist
ance, in my opinion, is voluntary arbi-
tration. The highest conception of arbi-
tration is that of an unbiased confer
ence board-a judicial body composed
of arbitrators outside the sphere of in
fluence exerted by the contending par
ties.
Another idea, approaching more near
ly the practical, is that of Il board con-
sisting of equal numbers from the two
bodies, with an umpire chosen by both.
Each of these conceptions of an arbi-
tration board has failed to satisfy the
parties interested or to solve and settle
industrial disputes. The best thinkers,
who are also charged with the trying
duties of practical arbitration, have
about decided that unless satisfactory
settlements can be reached by an equal
number of representatives of employer
and employee without an umpire the
conference would better fail. The fu-
ture economist may be wise enough to
present to a waiting world some plan
of arbitrary arbitration acceptable to
the wage Garner and wage payer, but
we fear that genius is not yet born.
While waiting for his advent, arbitra-
ton will go on. Every day we realize
that public sentiment is crystalliZing
around that thought.
Arbitration invariably means compro-
mise, and unless the contending parties
are prepared to accept this absolute
fact the work must fail. Everything
depends upon the personnel of the
board. How important that the choice
of arbitrators should fall upon the
clearest and deepest thinker, whose
vision is not obscured by his preju-
dices.
Questions of difference between buyer
and seller are as old as mankind, and
yet the dominion of commerce illus
trates how easily adjustments are made
in that realm.
The purely commercial aspect of bar
ter and sale Is complicated with the
human element in questions relating to
wages, and he who would settle the
wage problem without taking humani-
tarianism into account will not serve
his fellow men acceptably. The old law
of supply and demand, strictly inter
preted, does not avail to adjust all dis
putes that arise in the economical
world. The competent arbitrator must
acknowledge this. The employer who
admits no other rule of action is un-
wise.
There has been an infinite amount of
trouble in conferences for conciliation
and arbitration caused by insistence
upon rules of conduct evolved in the
lodgeroom and forming the written or
unwritten laws of unionism. Equally
provocative of trouble has been the tend
ency among some employers to ignore
the wage earners in the collective ca
pacity. Some time these two great
forces will learn that the intelligent
modification of their respective posi-
tions will eXtinguish the causes of what
has too frequently been called an ire
pressible conflict 1t may require a
great calamity in the industrial world
of America to teach us anew some of
the truths uttered by our forefa theirs
and imperishably preserved in the Dec
laration of Independence.
The National Founders association is
one of the practical results of the evolu-
ton of modern social economics. The
fundamental article of its constitution
is the very embodiment of voluntary
arbitration and reads as follows:
'"The objects of this association are:
First, the adoption of uniform be-
sis for just and equitable dealings be-
tween the members and their employ
ees, whereby the interests of both will
be properly protected; second, the in
vestigaton and adjustment by the prop
er officers of the association of any
question arising between members and
their employees"
This association was formed three
years ago. 1t now numbers about 400
members throughout the great manu-
featuring centers of the east, middle
west and west. 1t employs an army
exceeding 10000 men.
One of it's earliest acts was a joint
conference with the Representatives of
the Iron Molders' Union of North
America for the purpose of considering
an agreement that should form the
working basis of a treaty of peace.
This joint conference agreed upon a
plan of arbitration, which was subse-
quently adopted by the rank and file
OF both associations. 1t was an ex-
ceedingly simple and effective agree
ment, by the terms of which each body
solemnly agreed that there should be
neither strikes nor lockouts in the
foundry industry until arbitration had
failed to adjust the differences. The
wise provisions of this agreement have
been invoked scores of times with such
hattering results that neither party
could be persuaded to consent to it's
abrogation.
The National Founders association