Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
COMPACTS IN TRADE
The Scheme Discussed in All
Its Phases.
DISPUTE SETTLED
THE POLICY OF THE FEDERATION
OF LABOR.
Trade Agreements Regarded as the
PAYERS Of the Way to In
dustrial Peace.

In the Monthly Review of the National
Civic Federation joint trade agreements of
every phase are discussed. In addition to
pointing out the fact that such instru-
ments are not new and reviewing many
labor controversies which have been ter
minated through their use. the publication
lays down the policy of the federation.
which is subscribed to by Mr.. Samuel
Mather of the Dock Managers Association,
an association which includes such firms
as the Standard OIL Company, the United
States Steel Company and M. A. Hanna &
Co.: also by Mr. John Mitchell, president
Of the United Mine Workers Union; Presi-
dent Robbins Of the Pittsburg Coal Com
pany, and Col. Frederick Driscoll, commits
sioner Of the American Newspaper Pub
fishers Association. The Review not only
recites the advantages and elevating eff
fects Of the agreements. but gives numer-
GUS instances Of their practical use and
speaks in advocacy Of their further adop-
ton. characterizing them as PAYERS of the
way to Industrial peace"
Discussing the subject, the Review says.
in part:
"At three national conferences on con-
Citation and arbitration, held under the
auspices of the National Civic Federation.
resolutions were adopted recommending the
system of Joint trade agreements as the
most satisfactory method Of securing in
dustrial peace. The conference Of Decem-
Der. 1900, issued an address containing the
following:
"'To the end that tranquility in the in
dustrial world may prevail, this conference
on Cancellation and arbitration would make
the following recommendations to the
American people:
sFirst-That employers and wage earn
ers should enter into annual or semi-annual
agreements or contracts.
'Second-That all industries In the
United States should establish boards of
Cancellation within the several and varied
interests to which boards Of Cancellation
oil differences and disputes arising between
employer and employee, II not readily ad-
1usted between the immediate interests con-
cerned. may be referred for settlement
Purpose, Scope and Method.
.'The national committee appointed at
the convention of 1900. in statement Of
purpose, scope and method for the preven-
ton of Industrial disturbances, expressed
this opinion:
"STrade agreements between employers
and workmen where established for def
mite term of years have so fully demon
strated their value I'm maintaining indus
trial epace that they should be generally
adopted
''The committee of thirty-six appointed
at the conference of December, 1901. also
adopted a statement Of purpose which
declared :,
lions under which labor shall be performed
should be encouraged, and that when
agreements are made the terms thereof
should be faithfully adhered to. both in let
ter and spirit by~bOth parties
Industrial peace harmony Of capital
and labor arbitration 'conciliation.' all
somewhat vague and indefinite terms. fndf-
cate in general a hope that strikes and
Iockouts may be avoided but a trade
agreement has come to indicate definite
and specific method, which, above all 9TH
ers, lead to the realization Of this hope.
The resolutions and policy of the National
Civic Federation in this regard are not
based merely on theoretical grounds. but
are the result of experience in various in
dustries through period long enough to
bring conviction to those who have partici-
pated in the work. 1t is not asserted that
by means Of trade agreements all problems
of employee and employer may be solved,
nor even that a trade agreement can read
lily be framed and faithfully observed in
any and every industry.
Unfortunately, several of the existing
trade agreements were entered on only
after prolonged strikes and lockouts as q
means of preventing such disasters in the
future. But there are Indications that the
lesson of these experiences Is being OBJ
served in other industries, and that In the
future there may be expected an increasing
number Of trade agreements without the
preliminary test of general strike or lock-
out.
NIX l.