The age-herald., 1902-03-16
ooEDUorED BY B. ". BRUMLEY
GOOD ACCOMPLISHED
 BY MEDIAToRS,

GOOD ACCOMPLISHED
 BY MEDIAToRs.
 The big strike of union men at Boston, let the ultimate outcome be what 1t may, has attracted much attention and em- phasized the benefits that mediators can be in a struggle between employers and empIoyes It emphasizes more strongly the utmost willingness of union men to settle their grievances by arbitration and cancellation where 1t is possible and their case Is carried before fair tribunal. Reports show that all trouble as far as the general public was concerned would have been over Friday morning had the employers lined up to the spirit of the supposed settlement.
 This is the first time since the organ | ization of the Industrial Department or the Civic Federation that members Of the committee of 'Thirty-six' have had any opportunity to come Into action While l this case was not placed in their hands for settlement by either side, members of the committee acted as conciliators. In the March issue of the American Fed erationist the committee of 'Thirty-six' was discussed by the foremost men from both sides, and in this symposium Pres ideut Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor had the following paper, which should be of interest at this time:
 "In the abstract all men agree that to labcr Is always honorable, and to the laborer honor is always due In the con | crete and in general practice, 1t Is slmp- | ly a question of how much product can l be gotten out of the workers and how little wages they can be forced to accept | in return.
 That there is a perceptible departure | from so grave a msconception Of eco homie wisdom is a source of grattfcation That this change Is due to the united eI- fort of the toilers, no intelligent observer now disputes.
 "It is not my purpose to deliver an apotheosis to labor, or to indulge in any flight of fancy, describing how, from the crude raw material, through the brawn and muscle the exercise of the brain and the gentle finger tips of the laoorer comes the great result, the wealth so useful and ornamental to our lines
 'iNor vet to point out that those who grow the grain, yet oft go a-hungereo' who weare the silken robes of pride yet go thread bare; who mine the precious ores. vet 20 cold and penniless; who rear generous palaces, yet are herded in noi- some tenement
 "Sufdcient for us to know that in this marvellous age of ours, with our prodi- gious power of production, enormously increased by the application of steam and electricity and the introduction of the highest developed m machinery in Manufact- ure and transportation, the toiling masses of our country and our time find the | struggle to secure the necessities of life | keen. The alternating seasons of employ ment and idleness burden them to the uttermost.
 The workers produce more than enough | to supply the essential wants of society, and are happy in the thought that they are permitted to do so. It is, therefore, no fault of theirs that. despite our mar velous resources and wonderful industrial progress, conditions prevail inconsistent | with our advanced state of civilization. 'Therc are some, failing to appreciate | the duties they owe to society and their fellow men. whc not only fiercely engage in the mad rush for self aggrandizement, | but also antagoniZe any effort made to bring about more humane conditions for the toiling masses and all our people, Aye. the course pursued by many employ CTS of labor suggests the thought that they live in an atm osphere of gold dust whose every exhaation coins the phrases.
 Everyone for himself, and the-take the hindmost;" or After me, the de- luge."
 '"The workers press their claims with such force Of logic that even the most critical and selfish can not resist them. They argue that as all wealth is the re- suit of labor, why should we, who pro- duce all this wealth. possess or enjoy so small a portion?
 'If there is not enough wealth to fur nish the means to make us comfortable, why are we permitted to remain so long In enforced idleness? Why are we not more fully employed? Is not idleness a crime against society which needs our services?
 Why are shoemakers and tailors per- mitted to walk the streets begging for employment, when thousands are in want of shoes and coats? This is a typical illustration, and applies to all other branches of productive industry.
 We are not wanting in appreciation of the progress in civilization. We grant you that the condition of the laborers has been somewhat ameliorated; but on the ether hand an Interrogation presents It. self at the end of all our bosts of civiliza- tion, and asks why Is 1t that thousands of human beings, earnest, honest men, are periodically confronted with condi- tions of hardship and misery even such as savages are not called upon to en- dure Even in our day the awful spec | tacie confronts us in the mills and fac | tories where men have been displaced by women and women again by children | Sad commentary upon our time, to find idle men and busy children, children who | should be in the playground or school room rather than in the mill. factory and workshop.
 "The trade union and a federation of