The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-03
JUDGE GRAY ON ARBITRATION

nudge George Gray president Of the An
thracite Coal Strike Commission mas 'us'
80 rr,aa from Alabama, where ne sue
ceeded in settling the coal strike IN t''A'
section. and has given out some views On
the subject of capital and labor when c1' are
well worth considering.
Judge Gray expressed the belief that
,ha American people will find by and ny
solution Of the question involved IN 'hls
struggle between employer and emFioye'
II vii, take long time, he says put ne
,s confident that we will; solve 1t IN sour
own way along lines OF fumanitysland
cor,mon sense, But the solution, ~lnahls
on,n,on. must come through peaceaplee
arb,trat,on, and not through force. ',lrs am
confident" he declares, that there IS d
bottom fact in human nature IN t"n'cll
ue can find an alternative Of violence
and the strong hand. I do not say 'ha =.
This alternative will be appllcanle 70 ~
| questions. but when we come TO o"aBe
! ,ssues which must be settled-whlch must
| he settled, I say-and the question fls 'l'e
disnla cement OF union men on the one
aide or the displacement OF snon-un'oH
men on the other, settlement ny ioico
leaves bitterness and unrest II new iaoor
Is used 10 displace the old labor, ana a se'-
t,ement is effected only by the use OF the
! no,,ce. the question is whether we nave
not nurchaeed peace at too great price;
and think that employers are coming
| and will come to see that they VIII nave
moro advantage In n peaceful settlement
with the old and accustomed labor than py
\ rude,y settling dispute by brining IN
new labor at lower wages or altered con-
ditions."
Americans are so independent that they
sometimes become arrogant and this ls
true OF nil classes OF Americans, whether
they be capitalists. so-called, or laborers'
But for this very reason neither side
can take tho other by the throat and say
YOU shall or you shall not without caus-
Ing strife and struggle. Capital cannot
dictate arrogantly to labor any more than
labor can dictate arrogantly TO capital
When either side attempts that policy
there is sure to be trouble, and thoug"
| one side or the other may win the set
Element will not be satisfactory. NO mat
tor which side wins, the victory Is, nine
time out of ten, at the expense OF that
good will and cordially which should al
ways exist between employer ana en-
p,oye. and which is absolutely necessary
TO the hest interests OF both. We have
confidence In the. justice and common
sense and chara otter Of the American PEG
pie. whether they be employers or EN-
ployes, and therefore we concur IN the
confidence expressed by Judge Gray thai
There is a bottom fact In human nature
In which we can find land will find) ar
: alternative Of violence and the strong
!" hand"
1t seems to Judge Gray that the pro
, blem will work out In the recognition b!
employers and employees that when the,
|, come to disa greement involving the OK
] termities OF a suspension OF work, the!
can be better satisfied by referring II I,
r men-that Is, to impartial citzens-wh
will reflect the common sense OF the com
murity and bridge over disagreement
intensified by personal incompatibilltes
pride OF Individual opinion and resen
e ments incident to passionate controversy
6 He says that he saw that point clearl
n illustrated a few days ago when he We
a helping to settle the coal strike In Allah;
q ma. Men who had refused to yield d
J. reetly to the other side In the dispn
q would say: IAN right. Judgei II vow SO