The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-09

the American people will find by and
by a solution of the question involved
in this struggle between employer and
employe 1t will take long time, he
says. but be is confident that we Will
solve it in our own way alone lines Of
humanity and common sense. But the
solution, in MS opinion, must come
through peaceable arbitration, and not
through force. 81 am confdent,'' he
declares, that there is bottom fact
ii human nature in which we can find
an alternative Of violence and the
strong hand / do not say that this
alternative will be applicable to all
questions, but when we come to judge
issues which must be settled-which
must be settled, [ say-and the ques-
ton is the displacement of union men
on the one side, or the displacement
OF non-union men on the other, a set
tlement by force leaves bitterness and
unrest. If new labor is used to dis
place the old labor, and settlement
is effected only by the use of the
police, the question is whether we
have not purchased peace at too great a
price; and think that employers are
coming, and will come, to see that they
will have more advantage in peace
ful settlement with the old and accus-.
toned labor than by rudely settling a
dispute by bringing in new labor at
lower wages or altered conditions. -
Americans are SO independent that
they sometimes become arrogant, and
this is true of all classes of Americans,
whether they be capitalists, so-called,
or laborers. But for this very reason
neither side can take the other by the
throat and say you shall or you shall
not, without causing strife and strug-
gle. Capital cannot dictate arrogantly
to labor any more than labor can die
tate arrogantly to capital. When either
side attempts that policy there is sure
to be trouble, and though one side or
the other may win the settlement will
not be satisfactory. No matter which
side wins, the victory is, nine times.
out of ten, at the expense Of that good
will and condiality which should al
ways exist between employer and en-.
ploye, and which is absolutely neces&
sary to the best interests Of both. We
have confidence in the justice and
common sense and character Of the
American people, whether they be en-
ployers or employees, and therefore We.
concur in the confidence expressed by
Judge Gray that "There is bottom
fact in human nature in which we can
find land will fnd) an alternative.
Of violence and the strong hand.''
It seems to Judge Gray that the.
problem will work out in the recogni-
tion by employers and employe that
when they come to disagreement in
volving the extremities of suspension
of work, they can be better satisfied
by referring it to men-that is to I'M
partial citizens-who will reflect the,
common sense of the community and
bridge over disagreements intensified
by personal incompatibilities, pride Of
individual opinion and resentments in
cident to passionate controversy.
He says that he saw that point,
clearly illustrated few days ago when
he was helping to settle the coal strike.
in Alabama. Men who had refused to
yield directly to the other side IN the,
dispute would say: "All right, judge
if you say so, 1'll stand to it,
And they said it cheerfully. He de-
clares that the keynote of arbitration
is the old Scriptural phrase; "Come,
and let Us reason together
Quite so.-Richmond Times Dis
patch.