The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-18
ARBITRATION IN FAVOR.

That voluntary arbitration as principle and rs
means looking to the u.tlmae solution Of labor diff
ficultes. is in high favor with the best managed
unions is sisna!lE demonstrated by phases OF
the Chicago hotel walters strike. a concise state
mont Of the situation. together with
ment thereon is given by the Tribune
Public opinion c=nsures the striking wall
because they refused o artttratc ard
because they refused recognize to en-
p,oyers the right which th7y ella m
for themselves-that OF o-gerizi2E.
Sunday the walters applied -cess!vny
To the Steam Power Council and II" lee.
Coal ard Market Drivers t'nion for aid
in the shape Of a sympathetic strike BY
each Of these bodies they wore Informed
that their position unteEable and
tened TO s:va black eye TO union labor
They were further advised 10 seek to ar
bitrate
Labor unions a large degree depend
for their success upon public opinion. Pub
lie opinion approves unions when they
are soundly tonoraby managed. The
s;ard of the steam Power Council and the
Ice Coal and Market Drivers Union will
commend itself to the community as fair
and worthy credit.
These unions took n firm position in favor OF right
and principle Such stand rigdly maintained
among organizations in general must go far toward
correcting abuses of management and toward deyel-
opng the real aims of labor. That organization which
becomes involved i'll a controversy should be heid
strictly to principle under penalty of losing the sup
port of related bodies Unless its actions accord with
approved motives it should be left to stand alone.
In disputes which do not admit of amicable adj
justmrnt by the immediate parties. arbitration fairly
and ntelgently conducted. is the only rational and
moral aim of the union 4 strike based upon de-
mand for honest arbitration. or in other words the
exercise of peaceabe and legitimate power or pres
in nsstence upon arbitration to settle honestly
conceived differences must receive the sanction of
public opinion If differ there is most frequently
q peaceable and equitable mode of adjustment. and
public opinion holds both parties TO the controversy
to n recognition of such mode where the difference
IS fairly and honoraby conceived and is one of de-
gree
which do not permit of arbitration. Often there is
middle ground between the demand and the re-
fusal but obviously from the very nature of disa-
greements-which are but the outgrOwth of agree
ments-these occasions rare and when they arise
they should in principle be concluded are similar
differences between individuals of opposing mind;
with them the public has except in so far
as protection of public rights is involved
The relation Of the 'great third party" the public.
woven and entangled in industrial difficulties that
recognition be accorded to 1t in every instance.
and in those susceptible of adjustment the great
third party favors the equitable means. Arbitration
is the great peacemaker. the pubics safeguard its
protection against the consequences of error msman-
agement. betrayal avarce and oppression on the one
hand and extortion and unjust extremes the other
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