The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-22

| cording as the aims and purposes of
those with wh9m it originated are
shown to be more or less worthy of
public support. In it's inception it
| could not be said to-have been distin-
guished by any save the promotion of
personal ends; but in the management
of it's affairs the involvement which pro-
duced it has recently shown itself
far better entitled to public sustain
ment. Or tir
There can be no more public-spirited
or patriotic purpose advanced than
I the one which seeks to establish a
common ground on which the repre-
sentatives of employing and employed
labor can meet for consultation and
| cooperation. The body which meets
in Minneapolis, while it was heralded
at the outset as designed to promote
the general adoption of eight hours
as representing a legal days labor, is
understood now to be directed toward
the promotion of industrial peace. The
presence of many of the men who have
promised to take part in it's delibera-
tons can be accepted as showing that
even the most valuable practical re-.
suits may be looked for from the gath
ering. The fact that the president OF
| the United States has consented to
address the body will give to it's pro-
ceedings an almost national impor-
lance.
1t has been quite plain for many
years that the old conditions of per-
sonal relationship which distinguished
| the industrial life of half century ago
are gone forever. The relation now sub
sisting between the employer and en-
ploye is purely impersonal The cor
poration has supplanted the individual
employer, and the labor organization
has assumed to speak for the individ-
ual employee. Under such circumstances
it is idle to think of promoting more
cordial and friendly relations between
employer and employe save through
the medium of bringing home to both
how completely are their interests in
terdependent, and how vain it is to
believe that the eWorkingman can pros
per unless his employer is enabled to
conduct his business under conditions
which admit of the successful meeting
| of competition.
And there is lanother side to the
problem, which shows just as clearly
that the workingman is a distinct par
ty to the Industrial contract which is
involved in the relationship, and that
his interests cannot be set aside as
of only secondary Importance. A liv-
ing wage is the minimum which the
employe can look for as the product
of his labor. More than this the Amer
lean workingman must and will nave;
and yet he cannot get it unless he and
his employer, whether corporation or
| individual, are working hand in hand,
each for the promotion of the welfare
1 of both.
| No. channel has yet been opened up
through which we may hope to reach
the blessed era Of industrial peace,
save the two of specific and periodical
agreement between employee and en-
ployer and arbitration. 1t is mere
brute folly for either employer or en-
ploye to think that either or both Of
these can be dispensed with and peace
or prosperity prevail, or that the re-
suits Of either once it is entered upon,
are not to be respected, or may be
discarded by the parties to it or by
any one Of them.
The Minneapolis gathering will map
out it's own lines. 1t has been preced-
| ed in the same field by the National
| Civic Federation. That body has done
| much good. 1t is capable of doing
still much good. 1t has based its
| hopes of effective work on the two
| agencies of friendly mediation and ar
| bitration. 1t essayed to bring forth
| influences to bear toward the settle
ment of the strife now prevailing in
| the Pennsylvania coal district but itS
/ efforts were discarded by one Of the
parties, with the result that something
of social and industrial crisis is i'm
pending from the continued cessation
of work in the mines.
| MONDAY y COuN CdlluOI toJOuI IL
without taking cognizance of the situa-
ton which is created by the refusal
| of one of the parties to an industrial
dispute refusing tolconsider arbitration
| or outside interference as allowable.
If it's deliberations are to be of any
practical valued at ALL it must offer
to the country some means of extend
ing and perfectng. the only machinery
which is now seen to be available in
putting an end to tests of brute force
against the force of human endurance
which generally distinguish Industrial
| disputes; and which is seen in perfect
| operation in the struggle now prevail
| ing between the miners and mine op-
orators in the existing strike.
The panic which was happily averted