The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-07
HANNA URGES PEACE.
Speaks For Closer Relations Be-
tween Labor and Capital.

Philadelphia, April Senator Hanna
was the principal speaker at the clos
ing session Of the sixth annual meeting
! of the American Academy of Political
and Social Science. He divided his sub
ject with Samuel Gompers, president Of
the American Federation of Labor. and
the question of the relation Of capital
and labor was ably discussed by the
two speakers.
Senator Hanna's topic was Indus
trial Cancellation and Arbitration and
Mr.. GOmpers spoke on Its Possibilities
and Limitations
Senator Hanna began his address by
referring to the efforts of the National
| Civic Federation to promote industrial
peace. The industrial department of
| the Civic Federation, he said. although
| only two years old, had settled seven
J strikes in three months and prevented
the occurrence of two strikes, which
would have rendered idle more than
600 men,
Senator Hanna stated that he had
! first become interested in the subject
of the amicable adjustment of differ
enceS between employer and employe
! during the Ohio coal strike in 1874.
At that time, he said, an agreement
was entered into between the employ
/ ers' association and the miners union
! to meet each other and exert every effort
for Cancellation before resorting to dras-
/ tic measures. As q result there were no
more strikes of consequence in that
region.
The necessities growing out of the
vast productive capacity of this country,
| said Senator Hanna, have forced the
| condition OF the aggregation Of capital;
the creation of wealth in concrete form.
To absorb it and to render valuable as
| an industrial investment, we must have
! Industrial peace The civil federation
is beginning to lay the foundation Of
such a result"
sented among the laboring class, the
I speaker said the work of the civic fed
| GRAFTON must be principally educational
This question" he continued, rests
in the peoples hands If we have not
the sympathy Of the people we can not
hope to succeed. My experience of thir-
ty years as an employer has taught me
that the employer is expected to go
more than half way in meeting the en-
plOye. We are responsible to provide
work and to see that the men shall res
ceive a fair share of the benefits
I believe in organized labor and it is
a demonstrated fact that labor cOndi-
lions are benefited when intrusted to an
honest leader. Organized labor is a con-
dition that must be met"
Senator Hanna denounced socialism
as inimical to society and to industrial
development Sociaiistic ideas, he said
are ''un-American and unnatural to US
as n people
President Gompers' remarks referred
chiefly to the question of strikes and
lockouts. Much as a strike of labOring
men is to be deplored, he said, such ac-
ton by the wage-earner is the highest
civilized expression of discomfort among
wOrkmen. A strike is a protest against
wrong and injustice when there is nc
other way of securing redress.
Every means within the power of every
man. capitalist. labOrer, or neutral = said
the speaker. should be exerted to avert
strikes. Yet there are some things worse
thar strikes among them a degraded. de-
{ based or QenOTdllZed manhood NO matter
what may be the result of a strike. if the
! Workmen's organization is maintained ar
economic point has been gained or a social
defeat prevented.
Mr.. Gompers expressed opposition tc
compulsory arbitration as being ValueIess
He said the Civic Federation was endeav-
oring to bring about commercial and in
dustrial success without friction.
The other spea kers were Oscar s.
Straus. former United States minister to
Turkey. and William H. Pfahler of thu
National Association of Iron Founders.