Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-11-20
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION.

- SssAA'
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION.
Concerning the adoption of compul-
sorry arbitration for the settlement of
difficulties between labor and capital
the United Mine Workers journal
contends that it would only affect the
members of organized labor 1t fur
'ther states that the non-unionists
would not come under the scope of
such law, for no one could imagine
law which would compel man to join
a trades union any more than one
could imagine law compelling the
unwilling to join a certain church
Though there is, perhaps little similar
'ity in the two cases the impractical
bility of compulsory arbitration in the
United States is quite generally con-
coded.
The contest of the past summer be-
tween the anthracite miners and op-
orators has caused millions to become
students of the relations existing be-
tween the employers and employees of
the United States. This study reveals
the fact that there Is today greater
tendency upon the part of both classes
| to submit their differences to board
of arbitration for settlement than ever
before. In the case of the miners it
was found that through periods of
strife similar in character if not in
magnitude to the anthracite strike
the miners and operators in the btu
minous fields have come to recognize
| the principle of arbitration as just
and satisfactory method of settling
their differences.
| In reviewing the various plans pro.
posed for use in the anthracite fields
the Miners Journal says: mo better
plan appeared than that fathered by
the Civic Federation. That was the
wisdom crystallized through the eff
fects of the strife in the bituminous
fields and in effect is patterned, after
/ .
the joint. conferences of the operators
and miners" The matter of arbitra-
ton must continue to be one of mutual
agreement on the part Of both parties
to the controversy 1t must be grad,
ual growth, a work of education
wherein the participants come to the
realization that there is common
ground on which they may meet, that
each has certain rights that must be
respected. 1t must be a consumma
ton of feeling that recognizes the
mutual dependence of the one upon
the other.
In closing his article on compulsory
arbitration the editor of the Miners
Journal pays worthy tribute to the
efforts put forth by Senator Hanna
and the Civic Federation to bring
about the settlement of the anthracite
strike. He says:
"The splendid efforts of Senator
Hanna and the Civic Federation were
neutralized by the stubbornness of the
anthracite operators, but that does MOI
alter the fact that voluntary arbitra
ton is the proper solution and that the
lCiyic Federation is far preferable tt
a hard and fast law. To have compul
sorry arbitration would need legisla
ton and legislation would necessarily
mean that its complexion would have
la political color and there would be
strife among political parties to secure
political advantage therefrom. The
demagogue would jeopardize grea
business interests to secure votes ant
in the end instead of a policy tending
to do away with Industrial wars thu
gap would be widened and the whole
purpose defeated. Voluntary arbitra
ton would bring employee and employ
er together in the right spirit. l
gets their feet under the same table
and as their acquaintance grows tn,
asperities soften, mutual respect Il
created and in the end there comes
about the same harmonious relations
that exist between operator and mine
lin the competitive districts. 1t ma.
take battle or two more to cause tn,
anthracite operators to take the SAM
ivlew-but. they will in the end"
,