The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-16
lnLabor' SFieId
RIGHT TO COMBINE
President Stryker Of Hamilton Col
lege Presents the Case of the
Laboring Men.
An Argument That Compels Atten,
tion-A Word About Com
pulsory Arbitration.

In an address before the New England
society Of Schanton, Pa, Rev. DR.. W A.
Stryker, president of Hamilton college,
said:
&'Unions of labor have come to stay.
Com b1na ton and community of interest
are, their inherent right ALSO. They are
q fact and a factor. They must be rec
ognized They are recognized even in de-
nylng them recognition. .'.r'.t ,-.~t' g.
Fingers in oree's ears is an ultimatum
that two can play at. To hide under the
bedclothes may comfort the child, but
Will not stop the thunderst orn. Even to
criminal the law does not deny the
right to choose his own attorney. The
credentials OF any spokesman are from
those who send him, not from those to
whom he is sent. The principal accredits
his agent.
.'Organized capital speaks through it's
delegate. Labor has the same right. If
a given envoy is difficult, austere or Of
fensive. SO much the worse for those who
commission him. Either party may re-
quest different delegate, but to pre-
scribe how he shall be chosen or to re-
fuse all, Is to break off diplomatic rela-
TONS The right not to deal through self
sent neddlers does not modify the duty
TO recognize those who properly in
dorsed. Only faulty challenges the right
of men to act and speak collectively and
by whom they will. Obviously 100, 900
workrnen cannot state their cause to ten
executive boards. The question as to Mr.
Baer, or as to Mr.. Mitchell, is not whether
he Is in the employ Of those to whom he
goes. but whether he is authorized by
those from whom he comes.
The contention of the operators that
they may dictate just how their men shall
approach them cannot hold its ground
before American common sense and fair
play. 1t will fall it falls already, for that
public which does not bubble knows that
practically the United Mine Workers, as
such. and In the person Of John Mitchell,
are before the commission and the coun-
try. The arbitrary precept issues so far
only In mutual exasperattons and fur
nfshes the prolific opportunities Of mar
plots. Any genuine effort to agree must
listen to all parties claiming to be such.
las to the alleged non-responsibility of
the miners because they are not incorpo-
rated, remember that since they cannot
be enjotned, they cannot enjoin. It is,
even further remember, that their adhe-
sion to their word given Is their whole
capital. They know that the. country
watches them in this to see Of they be
men. Under immense temptation they
have this summer kept their word It is
much. 1t is enough. Incorporation may
be wise device, but it Is not the first
and great commandment.
"As to compulsory arbitration who
wants It? It is a contradiction in terms
The essence of arbitration is voluntary
consent to take advice. If its obiter dicta
are a1nicably accepted, 1t is excellent If
It can compel, it is but a new court, and
we are where we started. Agreement
and litigation are two opposite ways. If
arbitration could be compulsory, it would
be superf1uous '...
But, and moreover, not only must cor
porations give the freedom they take, not
treating equity thing to be settled by
an ex-parte dictum; they must also admit
and rectify their own errors"