The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-03
Al acEo= PEACE.

a lzI i
called 10 r.ces 1T the city OF Mifilea-
polls on September o. 1t Is TO be
conference of employers and enpioSes'
and its purpose is to bring about pei
ser understanding between them ana 70
make their relationship more harmon
,o,,e number of prominent citizens.
Including our captains OF INDUSTRY ana
representatives OF the most infiuenuai
Labor organizations tn the country, To-
retfer with students Of economic qaes-
:. .icne who are not actively engaged IN
trade. viii be present and various qnes-
fions pertaining TO the general subject
will be discussed.
shall men be permitted and encour-
med TO turn out all the work that ihev
90, white on duty or shall the least efti-
c,sn, or tho average worker set the pace
for all?
shall business be regarded as specles
Of war, in which the strong Fhali De az
.owas 10 crush the weak and reap the
.,o,,s or shall business be regarded as
new kind of partnership between BUS
fness Indertal<ers and worlfmen, IN "lllch
4 each shall earn in proportion to what ne
! contributes? ia which the workman
| sball take as personal a pride and have
i ,e ,tronc an interest in the business as
the ore who tnl.es the risks, furnishes
I the oreaniaing brains and the capital!
These are some Of the questions that
rt,1 he discussed; but. more than all,
the conference will consider the subject
rf strikes and lockouts and will endeaYor
IN devise some means TO prevent this Spe-
cies Of warfare between master ana man.
II is not expected, 10 be sure, that TINS
conference will actually devise any plan
to prevent strikes. but it is oEly by con-
ference and discussion in friendly spirit
that definite conclusions can be arrived
at. and 1t is at least encouraging that
leading men of the day, representing sii
interests, are willing 10 come together IN
friendly conference and make an honest
effort to reach solution of the labor
problem.
This is in Keeping with the spirit of the
age. for we live in an age which is more
dls,inctively peaceful than any which has
preceded War is savssa-~.r p'ocaeds
from savage instincts. xsaisEcon ocans
neace. When men become perfectly civ
,lized there will be 10 war. The great
nations OF the earth are not so prone TO
20 to war &c in other days. They are
disposed in this age OF civilization to set
tie their differences by peaceful arbitra-
ment. The strong nation does not op'
press and overrun The weak nation be-
cause it has the power to do so. There
are exceptional cases now and then, but
we state the rule. Civilization is be-
coming less and less tolerant Of such OBJ
pression on the part of the strong nation,
BY and by. when We have perfected civ
ilization, .his sort Of oppression viii not
be tolerated al ell.
There is also a manifestation of this
peaceful spirit in the business world
The now hackneyed term. community
OF interest" means that individuals have
found that it is better 10 unite into
company and carry on business together,
rather than for each man to fight Tor
himself in war OF extinction. And so
progressing step farther. the great cor
porations of the country have discovered
that IL is 10 their interest TO harmonize
rather than TO compete in war-like spirit
There is no sufficient reason why this
sp,it OF peace should not prevail in tho
case OF employer and emplcye NO
man liveth TO himself" No organiza-
ton. be it an organization of capital or
en- organization of labor, liveth to itself.
This is a time of inter-derendence. The
Interests Of capital, so called, and the
interests Of labor are mutual. and the
benefits from cooperation should be re-
clprocai When this great truth is thor
oughy understood and appreciated by
both sides, then there viii be peace be-
i tween labor and capital and the pros
perity Of both sides win be assured
Ii is 10 this end that the Minneapolis
Conference is called. and whatever the
practical result may be. the conference
is in itself a sign of progress in the d.
rection of peace on earth and good will
between man and man.
-----z=-=-=---
SOME STATISTICS OF THE WAR.
General Samuel G. French in his re-