Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-01
ARBITRATION OF LABOR DISPUTES.
senator Hanna Discusses the Reia-
tions of Labor and Capitol.

senator Hanna Discusses the ReIa-
lions Of labor and Capitol.
Senator Marcus A. Hanna. president OF
the American Civic Federation. speaks in
terms Of Instinted praise OF the work Of
the presidents anthracite coal strike com
mission and the manner in which that
great labor controversy has been ended.
In a long interview given out at Cleve-
land Senator Hanna discussed in all its
details the great movement which seems
to have begun spontaneously in labor cir
cles to make demands on capital and the
evolution that is going on in the minds Of
capitalists on the subject OF adopting a
rational policy toward labor, which would
prevent strikes and lockouts.
The chairman Of the republican national
committee and the chief Of the movement
to bring labor and capital into friendly re-
lations declared that great progress had
been made in this direction. One years
result had convinced him that the prin-
ciple Of Cancellation was bound to prevail:
that strikes would be suppressed and in
dustrial peace eventually obtained.
Senator Hanna sounded a vigorous warn
ing to both capital and labor. He said
labor must not feel emboldened because 1t
had won the coal strike and because prom
inent employers we're in the movement to
obtain arbitration. Labor would put iselt
back to a far worse position than before
by making radical demands.
Capital, on the other hand must recede
from the position which so many OF its
representatives occupy, that there is moth
ing to arbitrste, and nothing to talk about"
CAnaNaa Hanna wnw,gnIAA chat M
statement had come from him on the sub
ject Of the coal-strike report. He was told
that the public expected him to give an
expression, either of approval or disap-
prevail, Of the work of the commission.
81 know l have not talked about the coal
strike report" said Senator Hanna, and
the reason Is that / ought not to talk very
much about 1t. We who are associated
with the council Of Cancellation Of the Civic
Federation endeavored to prevent this
strike by bringing the representatives OF
the operators and miners together. We
endeavored to settle It after 1t was begun
by using out good offices to establish re-
lations between the operators and miners.
We failed in that because It was impos-
sible to get both sides to consent to ar
bitration. l have nothing to say as to the
responsibility for the continuance Of the
strike at this time.
IT will say that 1 am greatly pleased
with the work OF. the coal strike commits
sion. 1t has been very we'll done. 1t Is a
big thing. 1t cannot DO belittled on its
bearing on the future. l hope that the
report will lead to the adoption OF a plan
for permanent peace in the coal regions
do you understand that the operators
are entirely satis6ed?" the senator was
asked.
They are going to accept the report OF
the commission, and they are behaving
we'll, indeed" was the answer.
Are the miners satished?"
"They ought to be. and even il they are
not entirely satisfied, they will abide by
the verdict. John Mitchell is acting splen-
didly. There is a man the size Of whose
head DO success will ever change"
Efforts to get Senator Hanna to discuss
the attempts made by the Civic Federation
to terminate the strike failed. That is a
closed book" he said.
It is we'll known that when the Civic
Federation made its attempt to mediate the
coal strike, the miners were willing to
forego all their other demands and return
to work on being given an increase OF not
20 per cent, for which they struck, or 10 per
cent, on which they offered to compromise,
but 6 per cent. Rather than concede that
petty advance, certain operators forced a
continuance Of the strike and entailed a
total loss on all concerned of nearly $780,
900, 900, and they finally consented to arbi-
~tration, which gave the miners 10 per cent
and a large number of additional conces>
sions.
I'll talk about the future" said Senator
Hanna, suddenly, after he had made 1t clear
that he was not going to talk about what
had gone into history.
""Then what do the signs OF the times
~foreshadow, as bearing on the great ques>
ton Of Cancellation and arbitration between
labor and capital, which has been given
such On impetus by your federation and
been illustrated by such a great object
lesson as the coal strike? ?" Senator Hanna
was asked.
1T is difficult to predict with exactness
on this subject" was the quick reply.
There is a great movement in the ranks
Of labor for settlement of grievances, a re,
arrangement of wages and an adjustment
of regulations.
NOW, l do not think that agitation on
the part of organized labor has been TO-
mented by the influences which have been
felt in favor Of arbitration and Cancellation,
They are coming now because this is the
season OF the year when wage scales arc
fixed and agreements are entered into for
the next twelve months. so that. while
those who are hostile to any adjustment of
relations between labor and capital might
say that the agitation has been aided by
the work of the coal strike commission, /
do not think that position can be main
tanned"
What is rapidly coming to pass is a re-
alization on the part OF the laboring men