The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-26

doubt, settle many troubles, because very
rev men are successful unless supported by
pubic opinion. Let us suppose that law
existed that would compel President Baer.
representing the operators, and President
Mitchell, representing the miners, to sub
of arbitration. and pending the hear
Ing and decision of the same the
miners and operators should con-
suit would be that the public, which Is so
would get both sides of the
question and would. no doubt, agree with
the commission in its decision, and no mat
ter whether the decision favored the oper-
ators or not in all probability II would ter
inmate the strike, and thus save $20,0O0,0oO
In wages to the miners and $60,000,0GO to
the operators and the public.
suppose that during the last ten years
the labor difficulties had been settled by
arbitration, 1900 strikes could have been
prevented and saved the throwing out of
employment of 6,10o,694 workingmen, caus-
ing loss in wages of 1921 100000 and loss
to the employer of So, coo, 000. Arbitration
was favored by the late William McKin-
the housetops by Senators Hanna and Fair
banks. Why not, therefore, make il ef-
fective by establishing arbitration as a ma
tional peacemaker?
LABOR UNIONS.
Labor unions. rightly managed. have
proved great blessing to humanity; they
should, however. be Incorporated and
placed upon responsible footing, so that
both parties to a contract for wages could
be held liable for its enforcement, and fur
Their. the employer would be without excuse
when it comes to dealing with labor unions.
claiming that because they are not incor-
porated they are not financially responsi-
BILE. Too often the employer thinks the
union Is organized TO fight wholly for high
er wages, and has nervous prostrauon
when the word union is mentioned A
study of the principles and purposes of
many OF the labor unions reveals the fact
that the question of wages is only one OF
their many aims and objects. Take, for
example, the work of the labor unions OF
Indiana. OF the twenty-seven laws enacted
since 1895 in the interest of labor, scarcely
one OF them originated with legislator,
and most of them were discussed and
framed by labor unions and submitted to
the Legislature for its approval. Permit me
to submit few of the enacting clauses:
An act requiring switch lights upon
switches for the safety of railway en-
ployes.'
An act fixing the minimum wage rate
at ~ cents per hour on public work, and
requiring contracts for public work to
stipulate that a less rate shall not be
paid"
IAN act to provide for better sanitary
conditions In mines of the State
An act exempting mortgaged real estate
from taxation to the extent of $780,"
AN, act requiring fire escapes to be
IAN act TO regulate the employment of
women and children in factories and for
their safety, convenience and health"
IAN act creating labor commission"
AN act requiring coal mines to be VEN
tilated."
IAN act providing for the inspection of
factories and providing for the liberty,
safety and health of laborers and prohibit
ing the employment of children under four
teen years of age"
IAN act providing for labor commits
sion and providing for arbitration ADJUST
ment of labor troubles"
In the smaller cities, such as Corners
ville 1t l.; not necessary for labor unions
to exist, for the reason the industries are
diversified, and there is little of the mass
ing of capital in any one enterprise; the
employer and employe are well acquainted
one with the other; differences are easily
adjusted and the whole population is like
one happy industrious family; the large
per cent of workmen have their own homes
and take lively interest in the social and
industrial upbuilding of our beautiful city.
But in the congested centers where i'm
mense capital is controlled by powerful
combinations, employing thousands and
tens of thousands of employees, the union
OF men Is as necessary and just as the
organization of capital, not only for the
protection of wages, but for the betterment
of social conditions, and also to keep con-
stantly at the Legislatures of the several
States demanding and insisting upon the
enactment of laws to compel proper safe
guards for operatives while employed and
the protection of children from the bane-
full influences arising from their employ
ment at too early age.
CHILD LABOR.
President Gompers. Of the American
Federation of Labor. did not put it any too
strong when he said, MANY States, par
ticularly in the South, have no laws to
prevent the employment of children at a
tender age; men get rich from the labor
of children whose bones are ground into
dollars, while men walk the streets in idle
ness and the factories are filled with busy
children, a condition worse than slavery"
From the above it will be seen there is a
great work for both the political parties to
undertake and carry out and unless they do
take a decided stand for the amelioration
and work hand in hand for the protection
and upbuilding of the social conditions of
labor, there Will be new party formed,
made up of the industrial classes who will
seek redress at the polls. In proof of this
i cite the formidable organization that ac-
cording to Geographic communication from
Philadelphia, is approaching the stage OF
definite action-the formation of a new
party to be made UP of all the laborins
elements, and they propose putting a COM
ticket in the field, because both Repub-
lican and Democratic parties have failed
to offer any effective solution of the press
ing labor problems that are distracting the
great State of PENNSYLVANIA.
When in South Chicago, during the las,
presidential campaign, and before max.
ing speech In that city, l had occasion
to interview the managers of the great
Illinois Steel Company, who employed fr
South Chicago, alone, some 1900 men; they
assured me that labor unions, controlled
and Differed by representative men OF
good judgment, were most desirable to dc
business with for the reason that their com.
pany could deal with a committee who were
authorized to speak for 1000 men easier
than they could deal with the men in.
dividually. The committee representing the
workingmen were privileged to examine
the books of the company. Contracts fol
six months were entered into between the
company and the committee representing
the workingmen and they were sacredly
kept and performed by the union and Their,
was very little friction or differences II
the management of their affairs.
My contention, In conclusion, is that ole
issues should be dropped because they ar,
simply business propositions that com
| mission made up of experts could settl.
and determine much better than the aver
age voter. and that the two great partie.
should give more attention to the might,
| questions pertaining to the rights and Jus
| treatment of our fellow-man, to the enc
| that the Golden Rule might not only b,
| a motto to hang over the entrance to oul
doors at home, but that it should be pu
into practical operation in national ant
State affairs.
FRANCIS T. ROOTS.
Connersville, Ind, Sept. 90