The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1905-01-13
Cancellation and Arbitration.

ton OF the principle by tnose WHO
work and those who pay, Massa-
chusetts leads all other states OF
the Union in conciliation and arb
itration of industrial disputes. 1t
is on eof the hopeful signs OF
the times that the dcmoralizing
strikes is of less frequent occur
ance in our commonwealth. In
dustrial peace has reigned almost
supreme in those manufacturing
centcrs where this golden rule OF
commercial conduct has been
adopted. Against the old method
OF strikes stands out this safe and
sane method OF conciliation and
arbitration. By its adoption diff
ferences between the employer
and cmployc have been lessened.
Its practical effects are evidenced
i'm those communities where the
wheels of industry revolve stead
lily, and the full-pay envelope
comes along regularly while diff
fcrences of opinion are being set
tied by reason rather than by
might.
The Cancellation branch OF the
work, which includes trade agree
ments, the adjusting and compos-
ing OF difficulties before they
reach the acute stage. is as inn
portant as the boards other func
ton OF arbitration.
The bencts of Cancellation and
arbitration to the community, the
worker and the employer are not
as well understood as they should
be for the welfare of the common
wealth and | trust the General
Court may devise some method
to educate those most vitally in
tcrcsted in the subject to bet
ter understanding of the wisdom
of submitting grievances to an
impartial board of arbitraters !;
also that you, gentlemen, will ia
vor such Legislation as tends to
promote the better working Of the
~stem already established in the
state.
The work of the board can with
advantage be extended to include
the authority to appoint at its
discretion persons whose duty it
! shall be to make examination and
| investigation of industrial con-
ditions in localities within the
| commonwealth, as directed by the
board. to the end that the board
may be seasonably informed of
matters which may grow into
MISUNDERSTANDING before such
| shall become controversies, and
ultimately, perchance, result in
strikes or lockouts, thus disturb
ing the industrial peace of the
commonwealth.
Industrial and Trade Schools. :.
No effort should be spared to
keep Massachusetts to the front
in the industrial world. Since
the practical abolition of appren-
ticeship systems and the special
ization of labor in most of our
mills and factories, there is but
little opportunity for learning a
trade. Today most workers un-
derstand but one small part of an
industry. Their opportunities for
promotion are greatly lessened
by this fact. and the difficulty of
obtaining men 1ualied for fore
men and superientcndents is often
! great. y practical knowledge of
an industry as a whole, and of the
sciences upon which it rests.
would open the doors to promo
ton for many bright workers now
compelled to work at a machins
or bench. If a considerable par
OF our factory employees had q
more comprehensive knowle 81
of the industry in which toes
. were engaged. they wouN 64
quicker to appreciate anV aelopi
improvements. we would hag,
/ better forcmen and slI6crintend
its, orr factories wGild be bet
! conducted and Our ndustrie.
auid make greayer progress.
my op,nionS the industria
k kpdes sehYuieN are largel,
Eiile FoF l,s great advance
aae ]ss asaay Industries i,
ntss gland. We nov
~ lions of dollars wortl
"a tesi edhd and, shoul
'roaeved here. Technica
Nledg would not only enabl
work to produce thes
Yge.ds at home, but would great
increase OUR export trade.