The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-17

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nearly all OF the large concerns that are
large employers of skilled labor.
ION the other hand, the workmen have
been educated to look upon capital as the
common enemy rather than a benefactor.
capital has always fought organized labor
with view to destroying their unions, and
the unions have felt that 10 exist they had
10 keep UP a constant struggle.
mo one could expect, under such condi-
tons, anything but the long succession OF
extensive strikes, that have cost many mil
lions of dollars in wages as well in loss
Of business. In the last two or three years
much progress has been made, and the
leaders of capital as well as the leaders of
labor have had their eyes opened as TO
what may be accomplished in the way of
getting together.
Il should call the present movement
mutual disarmament in the industrial
world. To nothing can it be more aptly
hkened than the disarmament of Europe. l
would dlsarm capital of its antipathy to
trades unions and of its ruinous policy that
has too often ruled in the past. / would
dlsarm labor of its distrust Of capital and
OF its desire to place union ahead of the
material welfare of the men who work"
when did you first become interested in
this movement that has eliminated in the
New York cOnference?"
Il first met some gentlemen who were
engaged in the work soon after the settle
ment of the anthracite coal strike in 1900.
l do not mind saying now that the settle
ment Of that strike brought about
through making the capitalists who owned
the coal railroads and the coal companies
see that 1t was TO their interest to meet the
men and talk it over.
Yes, admit that / had something to do
with 1T, but the result is what l want to
speak of. These men who have been edu-
Gated to fight labor at all times, were
brought together TO meet the leaders of the
anthracite labor leaders in j. Pierpont
Morgan's office in New York The result
was that the strike was ended over night.
What was effected then brought the gen
tlemen who were interested in the indus
trial bureau of the Civic Federation to ask
me to join in their movement. They told
me they were trying to establish, in all
walks Of industrial life, what had been &C
compliShed in the way of settling the coal
strike. Joined heartily with them, and
since then have been doing everything in
my power to interest prominent men in the
movement"
do you think rule can be laid down to
which labor and capital will agree that will
result in preventing labor troubles in the
future?
Il do. 1t will be made a success if untir-
ing effort can do 1T. The last great strike
We had was the steel strike That could
have been prevented if it had been taken
in time. But mistakes had been made and
the matter got in such a shape that the
strike had to go on. | don't mind saying
that the Amalgamated Association at one
time during that strike offered to leave the
whole matter to me as arbiter, but at that
time the strike had got. into such shape
that the other side, although they had the
utmost confidence in the proposed arbi-
traitor. could not arbitrate.
81 will say, however, that the strike was
finally adjusted through the efforts of the
Civic Federation. Men like Ralph NJ. Eas-
ley, of Chicago, and Professor jerks, of
Cornell University, brought the thing
about.
1.-The conference which terminated the
strike was not easy to be had / went to
Mr.. Schwab, of the United States Steel
Corporation, myself and urged him to at
tend another conference. He finally con-
scented to see Professor jerks. AS a result
the strike was declared off and Mr.. Schwab
has frequently thanked me for bringing
him around on that subject.
There is another incident connected with
that strike which l will speak of more fully
some time in the future. L will refer to it
only briefly now, to show what may be ac-
complished by Cancellation when a grave
danger confronts the country.
"At one stage of the struggle between the
United States Steel Corporation and the
Amalgamated Association a sympathetic
strike was threatened. 1t was gravely i'm
minent, and If it had been ordered it would
have tied up all of the transportation lines
of the country, and there is no telling
where it would have ended or how extern
sive would have been the panic that would
have followed. In many lines of labor the
men were anxious to strike.
"A conference was held in Cleveland
which was attended by officials of most of
the big labor organizations. Officers of the
Amalgamated Association were present L
know just what happened, for / was there
The latter leaders were told of the re-
sponsibilitieS that they would have to as
sumo If they took the extreme step con-
templated. As a result OF the efforts made
averted. l believe in the future we will be
able to accomplish great things in the way
of adjusting these disputes before they
reach the acute stage"