Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-07
The Day of the Workers.

In many ways 1t is desirable that a day
should be set apart from all others in the
year to afford workingmen an opportunity
both to disport and relax themselves and to
demonstrate their numbers and therefore
their relations to the community at large
But chiefly is this institution valuable In
that it concentrates attention annually upon
the obligations which labor owes to the
other components of society and the duty
which those others owe to labor In fact
this is the day on which both sides of the
great economic equation should come to
sober balance of thought.
Today there is reason for both congratu-
lation and warning. Since the Labor day
of 1902 two great events have served to en-
courage and to discourage those who hope
for passing CT the so-called labor prob
lem The settlement of the anthracite
strike was distinct advance toward the
day of general arbitration The later inau-
guration in the metropolis of widespread
sympathetic strike among the building
trades was token that the lessons of last
autumn S victory have not been sufficiently
learned
The ideal Labor day will never come until
a way is found to prevent strikes to render
them unnecessary as well as impotent. to
settle all issuse between employer and en-
ployed through diSpassionate compromise
and fair adjustment rather than by stub
born resistance and aggression. That day
Is nearer at hand this year than 1t was last.
The net gam of the past twelve months is
unmistakabe. despite the setback caused
by the building trades tie-up. The object
lesson of the coal strike arbitration was too
great and impressive to be negatived by
even so costly a strife.
The outlook will remain bright for labor
as long wise counsels prevail. The same
is of course true of the side of capital In
deed the thought which today should be
held most firmly in mind by all the people
is that obstinate clinging to selfish Views is
bad for both. The third party to the
bargain has made itself heard and felt as
never before. the general public. The
Presidents Intervention last fall was for
the sake of that third element. and not for
either the workingmen or the capitalists.
The people were suffering and the arbitra-
ton was proposed for them. 1t is impossi-
BILE now to reckon with any labor question
without considering public sentiment
Eventually it will win.
There are many dark clouds on the hori-
ION today, but they do not necessarily sig
Nifty destructive storm. Strikes are In
cost heavily. the strikers in wages, the
employers in profits and the public in the
cost of living and the chance to earn full
income. Every strike adds to the burden
which unreason has in the past placed upon
the shoulders of the people. They are long
suffering. but they are finding voice at last
For every strike there is cause, and
usually that cause may be found in the re-
fusal of one side or the other to submit the
issues to an unconditional arbitration at
the hands of impartial umpires. The task
of labor today is to impress the public with
its willingness to be reasonable. Just as
soon as the workers demonstrate that they
are the true. unfiinching friends of the prin-
ciple of arbitration each annual massing of
their ranks in parade on this their day will
forward the advent of the peace unbroken
which will bring prosperity to all.