The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27
in The FIELD OF LABOR
HOW THE CIVIC FEDERATION Is RE-
GARDED BY LABOR LEADERS.
There Is Disposition to Give 1t q
Fair TriaI-LOcaI and Gem
eraI News Notes.

The Civic Federation is at this time being
sharply criticised by certain labor organi-
cations and labor publications. Few critics
openly take a stand against the movement
but by inference and indirect comment ex-
press their opinion. which, in effect. is that
the committee Of thirty-six'' is a political
effort TO capture the organized labor vote
The Socialists, who make I'D a good part
of the membership of organized labor. are
the principal antagonists The Socialist
Labor party is naturally against the Civic
Federation, being the recognized enemy of
organized labor from the time its propa-
ganda began in this country and, there
fore, its criticism is not recognized by
trades unionsts. But the Socialist party
made up almost entirely Of trades union
lists, is the element that is making it's oppo-
sition felt. Perhaps the principal cause of
this opposition is the fear that the Civic
Federation movement, if successful, will re-
tard the propaganda of socialism and give
credit for a reform labor movement to
some other political party
IL is not known that any member of the
Civic Federation or any of it's advocates
ever said that it would solve the labor
problem. That was not it's object when it
was organized. The purpose of the Civic
Federation, and the only position it has
ever taken, is to promote better feeling
between employer and employee and bring
them together to discuss their differences
and avoid strikes and lockouts. In doing
this it has thus far been successful.
ONE MIND ABOUT STRIKES.
Trades unionists who have long been
identified with the movement are generally
of one mind regarding strikes-they recog-
nize in them great hardships and pro-
longed privation, which are to their best
interests to avoid. 1t is seldom that strikes
have taken place where conferences have
been held between the employers and
employees before a suspension # work II
is the history Of the labor movement that
when differences came up between the en-
ployer and employees and both sides met
in conference a strike or lockout seldom
followed. If both sides reasoned together
concessions were made to avoid a SuSpen-
sion Of work. Almost without exception
strikes and lockouts have been inaugur.
one side or the other.
The members of the Civic Federation con-
ceived the idea that If they could form an
arbitration board, not to settle the dispute,
but to bring the employer and employees
or their representatives together and let
them discuss the issues and settle their
difference movement that would go a
long way toward settling the labor prob
lem would be accomplished. This attitude
has been maintained by the federation ia
the cases that have come before it. it has
been successful in getting employers to
meet their employees when, perhaps no
other means could have brought them to-
gather. Just now the merits of the Civic
Federation are being put TO a thorough test
in attempting 10 bring about a Cancellation
between the operators and miners Of the
anthracite coal district of Pennsylvania.
The welfare OF more than half million
persons and the saving or loss of millions
of dollars is now in the hands OF the COM
mittee For months ii has held in abey-
ance a threatened strike which would mean