Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-14
RELYING on PUBLIC OPINION

Some very good things were said by
the able men who attended, the meeting
Of the Civic federation the past week to
consider methods for promoting indus
trial peace. While the federation has
not yet quite fulfilled the expectations
of its promoters, those connected with It
show no abatement of interest and zeal
and appear confident that satisfactory
results will yet come from the efforts of
the organization. Thus far its work has
been chiefly educational and there is 10
question that 1t has been g~ratifyingly
successful in %cultivating public senti-
ment In a direction favorable to the
preservation Of industrial peace. Dis
cussion of the relations of capital and
labor and of the duties and obligations
Of each toward the general public has
been of such candid, fair and impartial
character as to make a strong impress
sion Upon the public mind, and 1t is
hardly possible that this can fail to ulti-
mately produce practical results. 1t
would be to underrate and think meanly
Of the intelligence of the time to suppose
that such effort on the part of men sin
cerely DESTROYS to avert conflicts be-
tween capital and labor will be fruitless.
Among the addresses at the late meet
ing of the federation, not the least nota-
BILE was that of Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams, the underlying thought of which
was that the most potent force we have
at command for the righting of wrongs
and the safeguarding Of the interests of
all concerned in labor disputes is that Of
public opinion. what is wanted in in
dustrial disturbances" said MI. Adams,
"is not force, but light and guidance.
The word compulsion has a very un.
pleasant sound to Americans. In theory
only is the thing popular. With us the
final appeal must always be to reason,
and public opinion enforces the edict of
that appeal" He declared that the trou-
bic with us is that we are always pratt.
ing of the force Of public opinion, but
when the e%xigency arises we evince nc
confidence in it. We should in this mat.
ter have the courage Of our convictions
Mr.. Adams thought it would be a good
thing to have a public tribunal, which
could be summoned into existence by
the president, when the emergency arose
to consider any industrial controversy
and with power to summon witnesses
and compel the production of papers
He believed the report Of such a tribu
nal, If well reasoned and fair, would
carry with 1t the force of enlightened
public opinion, land before that force
neither of the parties to the c%ontrovers,
would be able to stand out, for the reason
that in the United States public opinion
has a very summary as well as effectiy,
way of enforcing its own process" n,
urged that what is necessary is to or
ganize that public opinion, and, wher
organized and made effective, to rely OF
it to produce all desirable results. in til,
average case. 1t can only be organized
he said, by bringing it to bear through
the medium Of capable men, thorough,
Informed upon the special matter unde
discussion and, competent to express
L-~b
courageous opinions clearly.
There is reason to think that thes,
ideas will grow in favor and force. I
must have occurred to most thoughtful
| people within the last few months tina
t under our political system an enIight
| ened public opinion is the force chief
to be relied upon for the correction O
| wrongs and the remedy of evils an,
abuses. Under ordinary circumstance
r public opinion is slow to assert Itself
: but we have recently seen how it ca
= be aroused and how powerful it is I
c compel respect. If it were organized 4
: the way suggested by Mr.. Adams, s
5 that In the case of an Industrial disturb
ance affecting the general public interes
+ the facts could be a%scertained by a tribr
nal having full authority to ~investigat,
1t is not to be doubted that the effeC
( would be most salutary and that th
e danger which now constantly menace
s industrial peace would be very great
lessened.
TO PROMOTE EDUCATION.
A bill that passed congress and