The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-26
INDUSTRIAL CANCELLATION.

The Journal has expressed the opinion
that the experience of the recent strike
and the manner of its settlement will make
strongly In favor OF the principle of con-
cilation. When, after nearly six months
stubborn controversy. the most costly
strike that has ever occurred can be set
tied by arbitration, no sensible person can
help wondering why it was not averted and
it's losses and suffering prevented by con-
ciliatory methods at the beginning. Un-
doubtedly this could have been done had
the proper spirit existed, together with
the necessary machinery for giving it eff
feet. There is reason to believe that the
commission which now has the strike con-
troversy in hand will in its report empha-
size the Importance of conciliation and en-
deavor to provide a means of giving II
practical effect President Roosevelt hint
ed at something of the kind in his instruc-
tons to the commission when he said:
BY the action you recommend you will
endeavor to establish the relations between
the employers and the wage-workers in
the anthracite fields on just and perma-
nent basis, and as far as possible to do
away with any causes for the recurrence
or such difficulties as those which you have
been called in to settle.
The relations between the anthracite
operators and miners cannot be established
on just ard permanent basis and the re-
currence of future strikes be prevented
without the establishment of system of
conciliation and contracts.
Some of the most prominent labor lead
ers, including one or two members of the
commission, are on record in favor of in
dustrial conciliation as a means of prevent
Ing strikes. Several of these spoke at the
conference which resulted in forming the
National Civic Federation. Mr. Mitchell
spoke strongly on this line. He said: "I
have never. in all my experience, seen a
strike that could not have been averted
IL the employers and the representa-
tives OF the employees had met in Joint
conference before the strike was inaugur-
ated; provided, of course. that the conferees
were actuated by honest purposes and lofty
motives" Samuel Gompers, president of
the American Federation of Labor, said:
When organized labor says We want to
arbitrate,' 1t means that the employer or
his representative shall meet with the
workers. or their representatives, and en-
deavor calmly and carefully intelligently
and humanely, to arrive at a result that
shall be beneficial to both and to all the
people" This is the essence of concilia-
tion. Mr.. Frank p. Sargent, grand master
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
hat vho
tween labor and capital. 'if, instead of
standing at a distance and calling one an
other names, they would come together
and sit down and hear both sides of the
question, and form conclusions upon facts
and good logical argument Industrial peace
Will come quickly" Several other labor
leaders spoke on the same line, treating
strikes as a preventable evil and conciIia-
ton as the cure. Among the speakers was
Z. Z. Clark. chief conductor of the Order
Of Railway Conductors. who said:
III the employer and his employees, one
represented by the officers In charge, the
other 6y the committee. and. If necessary,
draw closely together and sit down in a
friendly, dispassionate and considerable Way
70 discuss the situation. in nine cases out
understanding acceptable to both Each
must must learn TO respect the rights and feel
inss OF the other. Organization on
the part of both employer and employe
should be perfect as possible Each
should be dominated by desire to be fair
and to do right. . 4. The practice of
terms, and in friendly and conciliatory
spirit, Tor the purpose OF intelligent and
frank discussion of these matters is the
rational, reasonable and civilized way of
meeting this question. II that way he
adopted, the next and natural step is a
friendly agreement to submit to arbitra-
lion such disputed points as the principals
are unable TO reach an agreement upon
1 am an optimist on this subject
1 believe that the principle of arbitration
as means or settlement OF industrial dis
putes Is gaining ground just as surely as
western-hemisphere civilization is making
progress.
AS Mr.. Clark is a member of the commits
sion to settle the coal strike the fact that
he favors conference, conciliation and ar
bitration the proper means of settling
labor disputes is of interest 1t makes it
reasonably certain that these views will
find expression in the report of the COM
mission. United States Commissioner of
Labor Carroll d. Wright, who was yes
terday named as an additional member
Of the commission. holds the same
views, and his opinions will have weight
In view of all the facts there is rea-
son to believe that the commission will
formulate and recommend a plan of con-
.ciliation and arbitration which, if adopted
by the operators and miners will provide a
way for the peaceable settlement of all
future controversies. The trend of public
opinion is decidedly in that direction.