The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-23
ARBITRATION NOT
Sovereign REMEDY
Paper Before Convention of
Employers and Employees.
LABOR PROBLEMS DISCUSSED
Economists and Others in Session at
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. JIsti, Commits
sioner of Illinois Coal Operators As
ISOLATION, Advances Ideas.

MINNEAPOLIS. MINI. Sept. 23.-Un-
usual interest was manifested in the
proceedings of the second days session
Of the national convention Of Employers
and Employees
Herman Justi. commissioner of Illinois
Coal Operators Association. read an in
teresting paper on Arbitration; its
Uses and Abuses He said that the
word arbitration was little under
stood. and that TO the popular mind its
very novelty places a DANGEROUS glamour
about it. Wise labor leaders and
thoughtful employers OF labor view it
alike with apprehension.
Any plan of settling labor disputes
that is labeled arbitration seems to
catch the popular fancy the commits
sioner said, but as IN all other matters,
those who are ignorant Of the issues
involved and understand the question
least. are the very. persons who discuss
it most. and who are most insistent
upon its adoption for everything With
the masses arbitration is the first
thought. while with those who are con-
stautly dealing with labor disputes, it
is the last resort.
Says Arbitration Is Dangerous.
Mr.. JUST said that arbitration should
never be resorted to save in an extrem-
ity, sand that the energy and interest
displayed in advocating its general
adoption could be better applied to all
those simpler and more practical plans
and methods of adjustment designed to
render arbitration unnecessary.
Affiliations popular synonym is
compromise, and there is nothing
more mischievous than a compromise on
any question of principle
He said there was nothing fairer than
arbitration, when arbitration Is positive
" required when all the parties TO the
dispute desire their differences arbi-
trated. and when the arbiteTs are men
who have been selected because OF their
special fitness for the work.
Mr. JUST said that it must thus be
clearly seen, that arbitration as make
shift IS an absurdity utterly useless as
a means OF promoting Industrial peace,
and mischievous in its consequences. 1t
must also be just as clear that arbitTa-
ton is equally acceptable TO employer
and emDloye when both believe some
thing is 10 be gained by II. and 1t meets
with equal opposition when there is a
mutual conviction OF impending loss
Labor Problem Business Problem.
Old Adam. - he said. is always on
deck; crafty. cunning, but not wisely
selfish II wisely selfish, we should hear
of Iockouts.' and strikes only at long
intervals, for the wisely selfish If not
endowed with good business sense. seek
at least TO cultivate il. and here let it
be understood that the labor problem is
a business problem. and that the only
relations existing between employer and
employe are contract relations while
any other relations are purely volun-
tary OF elective and can only exist by
mutual agreement
While firmly and confidently believing
in the advantages Of proper arbitration,
he said, II must be admitted that the
only way TO render It so costly. so very
difficult 10 obtain, that il Will be re-
sorted &c as an heroic remedy. and not
as q paHacea for every i'll. That is 70
say, It should be applied 10 the labor
malady in an extremity. or when every
other remedy has failed