The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-23
SHOULD VIEW BOTH SIDES.
Duty of Labor Unions in Industrial
Economic Affairs.
Brooklyn Eagle.

A situation that has been growing IN
tolerabie is to be relieved. II is hoped, by
the international board OF arbitration, 10
which disputes between mechanics and en-
ployers can be referred. This board is re-
markable in that it presents nearly all
phases of Industrial life. and beside
dozen employers and an equal number OF
heads Of mechanics unions, II includes
men Of weight in other departments VINO
stand for those wider interests or gov
eminent, law. commerce, education, re-
ligiOn, finance and society, that are unaf-
fected by forced or willing memberships In
trade associations. 1t is "a committee, then
to which both sides in a dispute can look
with an expectancy Of fair hearing and an
honest verdict
But are there not many disputes which
can be settled out of this court? Most OF
its members are busy men, who have i'm
portant interests in their trust, and cannot
spare time from their offices and their col
leges and their professional practice 10
listen to disputes, involving frequently
matters of discipline and individual en-
cIOachment, or loss, rather than of princi-
pie or the welfare OF numbers. The capl-
talists are doing something TO secure a
better feeling on the part of their en-
plOyeS, and within a few days there have
been distributions of gifts and shares In
the year profit, wages have been raised,
hours have been shortened, and, in many
shops, mills and factories the employers
have installed such things as baths, libra
Tles. dining-rooms. dispensaries and recrea-
ton halls.
Nothing can be more false than the allie
cation of certain labor disturbers-profes-
siOnal agitators, anarchists, ne r-dO-weels,
who live by assessments on men who really
work-that capital is an enemy of labor.
The most and worst that capital does is 10
be Indifferent. That it is trying TO injure
the men on whom ii must rely TO make its
goods and mine it's coal and run its trains
is a statement too silly to refute, yet this
cry sounds up and down the land, wherever
the professional agitator can find an au-
dience to listen to it
1t is we'll enough known that gentle
methods succeed where stern and exacting
ones fail This is obvious in the discipln-
airy practices OF armies, naNleS ana prisons,
and il is so in industries. Harsh and OPP
pressive ways meet with a response In
kind and beget treachery where they can
not be met with open force. Yet the lead
ers of labor rebellfons have been slow 10
learn this lesson. They are always for Sc
we're and lawless modes OF correction. In
hardly a known instance have they shown
to their employers an linking OF that gen
crosby which they are constantly demand
ing that employers shall show to them.
l. they do not get what they want there Is
Immediately a threat of violence. IL a man
remains out of union he is TO be driven
into il by force or else driven away from
the place where he has earned his bread.
The wonder is that employers have kept
so calm a temper, in view of the interior
ences with their business and with the lib
critics of their employees.
Now. cannot the mechanics meet the en-
ployers in a better spirit? Can they not
prove that they are willing to extend an &C
caSiOnal kindness, as well as TO ask one? III
an employer is in straits, in order to finish
a contract, and will suffer loss If II re-
mains unfinished according to schedule, is II
possible that every man In his employ will
drop his hammer on the blowing of the
whistle fearful lest he should work for one
second over time? There is, TO be sure, a
lava wonderful lawn this State that or
ders the punishment of any employer who
ObligeS an employe 10 work for more than
ten hours. The fine for that crime is $1,000
Whenever, in his turn, mechanic is will
ing TO break this law he is disciplined by
his union and fined for doing Ii. In recent
instance. painter was punished by his
union for painting his fence in the only time
he had to do IL, namely. after his regular
working hours. and in several instances me-
chanics who undertook TO do needed jobs
about their own premises were warned that
the work must be given TO others. so that
they might cOnfine their laborS to the stipu-
lated eight hours a day.
There are ways of getting around these
regulations, however, and if the labor
unions would thrive in the esteem of the
public as they are constantly expecting &c
thrive in pecuniary gains and the increase
of leisure and ease, they might occasionally
show an appreciation of what is done fol
them by their employers, and desist from
the belief that every one not mechanic Is
trying in some way TO do them. Ter
thousand employees of the American Elk
press Company had Christmas presents last
year Will one of the 10000 offer TO do q
minute of extra work? He may have to dc
it. but will he offer to? A hundred thousand
mechanics and labOrers in the employ of the
/ United States Steel Corporation will share
/ profits with their stockholders this winter
! Will one of that hundred thousand offer tC
give a few minutes of his leisure for the
good of the business by which he lives
/ The mechanic has lost something of his in.
! dependence if he takes an attitude OF con
! tinual supplicatiOn and demand and ac
! cepts the statement of his leaders that al
| obligation is toward and never from him.