The San Francisco call., 1904-03-01
THE ARBITRATION BILL.

no strikes because of her compulsory arbitration law,
theorists this country have been enthusiastic the
plan. They leave of their calculations two impor-
elements, affecting the employer and the other
the empoye.
In New Zealand the law soon became matter OF poll
tics The of the employees far exceeds that OF the
employers AS result the decisions OF the arbitration
officers depend upon politics for their places tav-
ored the greater number of voters But was found I'M
possible compel employers to stay IN business under
conditions that left them nducemen IN the shape OF
profit So there began, and continues disappearance
OF the industries which employ labor As no law can
compel employer do business in order to employ
labor at wage scale arbtrated his disadvantage
nothing can compel labOring to continue work at
scale that~is below what he believes is proper stand
ard OF life The New Zealand plan is illustration of
evil effects of purely arbitrary and artificial inter-
ference with the natural law OF supply and demand
The biFnow before Congress- to provide permanent
and costly tribunal for compulsory arbitration has all OF
the perncous features Of the New Zealand plan The
committee that has it in charge is consulting the labor
of the country, and their are not
favorable to the proposed law Fhe principle cannot be
too often stated that in this country there power to
compel free work When by voluntary idleness
incurs the penalty visited upon vagrancy he legally
loses his status free and the consequences are
upon him.
Our system does not permit ne infection of ;coinPul-
sorry labor or compulsory ideness. Under it no free
legally be compelled to work to be idle This
would be interference with natural right equal to the
holding of men in slavery We have explained before
that this the WHICH vitiates: labor CON
A workman may make contract, ain individual,
and may perform far and as long as snts him, and
no longer While he performs he must live up to it's
conditions His employer be compelled in like
keep his part Of such contract only while it IS
in. performance by the other party
The variations from this rule only when property
judicial custody, the of contracts on the
high seas or in the public service When the undertak
ing between citizen and citizen its performance by the
aborer is voluntary. OF this condition Of legal
respect for the rights OF labor is associated with the free
dom of labor When the party such cotract ceases
to perform it, the right of the employer to- fill his
place anything which prevents another man taking
if he wish do illegal restraint upon both the:
employer. and the employe - .*:*..:'>: =: "
This being the natural and legal condition OF labor in
the United States compulsory restraint upon which
would compel the employer his business 10 fur
nish work and pay wages, tile. employe to continue
labor under conditions that not to mis- interest in
suferable We have doubt that if employers are also
consulted by the committee their opposition will be
found to emphatic that of the labor leaders For
them brings i'll sight the conditions that over
wfelming and obsoleng the industries Of New Zealand
Politics enters into such questions here to greater de-
gree than there and insure the decisions
compulsory arbitration foma tendency that will:
drive the employer the wall and compel him aban
don business =.
Taking men and politics as they are such result may
be confidently anticipated In the superficial may
be said that the labor leaders should a system.
which throws tie disputes wages aid hours into
politics. which will in effect make the workingmen then
selves the arbtrators eX parte of all issues against the
employers them much credit that they look up
apparent and actual advantage,
cause no power exists compel man employ
other When the pressure of practically pare abtra
ton reaches certain point capital the employer aban
dons the field and industry ceases.
Slcb law is REMEDY The real cure lies III pro-
tectng the legal equality Of all and their right 10
work or TO quit without arbitrary interference from
any source This is the saying that the soa-.
tion lies in the free exercise and enjoyment by every
man OF his natural right.
Theorists amabe people, who no doubt SIM
cerey impressed by the woes and the mistakes mis-
chances of humanity and really believe that they are
susceptible Of purely artificial remedy But the equality
of which they dream be, for it equality
of achievement Nothing destroy equality of oppor-
tunity under our Government. and nothing create
equality of achievement Men differ in the qualities of
thrift, industry, temperance and judgment and no way
will ever be found to abolish that difference Instead of
yielding artificial remedies, is increased by their ap-
p;cation The personal equation will always remain the
great and ruling factor in human affairs Every man Is
entitled as individual, benefit himself by his SUI
perior skill strength, endurance and enterprise and So
ciey is injured in proportion this right any man.
ner nterfered with
The proposed leeislaton is of doubtful constitution
ality, but there is doubt of its inexpediency.
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