Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-16
ARBITRATION IN LABOR DISPUTES.

~ T GhhDh ~ A1a
There is no more important question
than that Of preserving Industrial peace
and measures looking to this cannot be
too frequently or freely discussed.
Something has peer accomplished in
this direction within the last few years
and much Is hoped for from the result of
the late conference of the employers Of
labor and its representatives, but the
problem has not yet been solved. Among
the states Massachusetts, is foremost in
the matter of arbitration in labor dis
putes and another step in the interest of
Industrial peace is under consideration.
This is the establishment Of a court for
the adjudication Of cases Of difference
as to hours and wages Of labor between
employers and workmen, on the lines OF
the New Zealand statute which has
been In operation for a number of years.
A good deal has been said about the
New Zealand plan and there have been
statements that it has not operated sue
cessfully. There is the authority Of the
secretary for labor of that colony that
such statements are In a
letter to the New York Evening Post he
says that the New Zealand plan Of COM
pulsory arbitration is considered there
to be a pronounced success and that only
a revolution could displace it. AS evil
dence that the plan has worked success
fully he points to the fact that it has
been adopted In New South Wales,
South Australia and Western Australia.
He further states that this labor legis-
lation has not, as has beer alleged,
driven capital out of the colony, but on
the contrary capital has greatly ex-
tended its operations. while the relations
between capital and labor have never
been better than now. He says: 80
far as my power of observation goes,
class bitterness is almost unknown in
New Zealand and most kindly feeling
exists between employer and employed.
There are no beggars In the colony and
poverty Of the kind common in the big
cities of Europe and America is almost
unknown. Nowhere in the world can so
many well-clad, rosy-faced people be
e together as In a New Zealand
crowd. If they are dissatisfied and fret
ting against their working conditions
they must have the art Of c~oncealment
in high degree"
Accepting this testimony In regard to
industrial conditions In the colony as
conclusive, II Is vet very QUESTIONABLE
whether the New Zealand plan for set,
Ting differences between employers and
employees would be practicable here.
There is an overwhelming feeling In this
country against any form Of compulsory
arbitration. This has peer freely ex-
pressed not only by the employers of
labor, but with unanimity by organized
labor. Therefore it is at present quite
useless to seriously consider any PROPOSE
ton that involves compulsory arbitra-
ton, so that the propoged Massachusetts
labor court Is not likely to be estab-
lished.
voluntary arrangements for the set
Element Of labor disputes, such as that
effected at the late conference of the
representatives Of capital and labor, ap-
pears to be the only practicable plan for
preserving industrial peace and it is an
encouraging fact that there is a grow
ing willingness to arbltrate on both
sides-a spirit which should receive all
possible encouragement.