The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-09-17

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ployer has suffered, also, his losses be-
ing placed at 1922, 731, 12l-a grand
total of $3.50, 594, 500.
Think of it, 1880, 594, 500 in cash
absolutely thrown away-a sum suffi-
cient to purchase respectable suit
of clothes for every map, woman and
child in the United States; sum
nearly as large as the total amount of
gold owned by the United States gov
eminent Is it to be wondered at, or
thought strange, that employer and
employee have decided, at this late
day, to arrange for discussion Of the
problems that have wrought such in
dustrial devastation?
These figures can be truthfully
termed as large items in "the price
that staggers humanity" Stupendous
as these figures may seem, averaging
$40, 900, 900 per year, they appear in
significant beside the cost of the
present coal strike in Pennsylvania,
the total cost today having passed the
SO, 600, 900 mark.
But this country will doubtless age
greatly before another battle of such
magnitude is begun between labor
and capital. Arbitration has failed
in nearly every instance it has been
tried in the present crisis Why:
Simply because employer and en-
ployee are sadly ignorant of an eco
nomical and businesslike- plan for the
adjustment Of minor grievances; and
thus the small disturbances have
magnified themselves, yes, and multi
piled, until today they have reached
point beyond the control of even the
coolest headed labor leader or most
liberal and fair minded employer of
labor.
Let US hope then that the coming
convention will result in the adoption
of some plan for the arbitration of
disagreements between labor and CAPT
/
ed; let it be arbitration, pure and
simple. Let him who believes he
has a claim against his employer or
fellow workman be given chance to
state his grievance before those in
whom he puts his faith as arbitrator,
and not through any walking dele
gate. Let this useless member of the
industrial army be reduced to the
ranks, and if he refuses to do the
tasks allotted to honest breadwinners,
ostracize him. He is curse, a costly
one and one the country ought to be
easily rid of-can dispense with east.
ly. Relegate him.
President Roosevelt has assured
those having in charge the coming
convention that he intends to be pres.
ent ON one of the five days of the
meeting. His earnest straightforward
utterances will have unmeasured
weight. Such representative mer
from such representative educationaI
institutions as the following will BIZ
present: Cyrus Northrup, president
of the University of Minnesota j
B. Clark, professor of political econ
omy of Columbia University, New
York. Hon. Carol d. Wright, Unit
ed States commissioner of labor
Senator J. W. Bailey of Texas Bish
OPP Ireland; John Mitchell, presiden
of the United Mine Workers; 7. V
Powderly, leader of the hosts o
labor; James NJ. Lynch, presiden
international Typographical Union
Charles M, Schwab, president of tn
United States Steel Corporation; f
e, Clark, president, Order of Rail
way Conductors of America, an
Grand Master f. p. Sargent of tn
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and scores Of others will be presen
during the five days of the conventio
and will take part in the discussions
When such a representative body c
men cOngregate for the purpose tina
interests thesesmen, good must result
and that result ought to begin to al
pear within forty eight hours afte
the close of the convention, through
out the whole industrial field in til
United States; and such boroughs {
strike cursed Shenandoah will breatl
a sigh of relief to know that succC
has come to them in the shape Of n
earnest endeavor upon the part of ii
employer and the laborer to be ju
each to the other, Whatever recon
mendations or agreements may con
from this convention, individual al