The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-05
BE[MONTTALKSOF THE STRIKE
BTT DECLINES TO DECLARE FOR
CONPT LSORY ARBITRiTION
says Any Arbitration Is Useless n't's
Both sides Are Forced 10 live W 70
Their Agreements seth 10" ana u -
wheeler fer New Arbitration Law

president August Belmont OF the Inter
borough Rapid Transit Company anu
George L. Pepper leader. with w T. JehcRs
of the late strike on the company elevated
and subway railroads, met OF a gathering
OF the Civic Federation yesterday ana
there was no violence. Mr.. BelmontS
company is on top and MIR. Pepper Is out
Of Job. but neither referred 10 these iactS'
The meeting was called to discuss com
pulsory arbitration with tho lnterborough
strike as a text The Civic Federation a.
body does not believe In compulsory ar
bitration, but the subject was brought up
as vital lust now in view Of the VIOLATION
OF the agreement with the lnterborough
company by its recent employees
Oscar ). Straus presided, and among
those present in addition to Mr., Belmont
who is president Of tho Federation, and
Mr. Pepper were Bishop Potter, Arch-
bishop Ireland. ex-Mayor Seth Low ana
John Cooper Of the Iron League. There
was a large representation Of labor men.
Mr.. Straus referred to the marlborough
strike as IN unfortunate episode IN the
labor movement Then he called on MT
Belmont The Intcrboroughs president
managed 10 convey the impression that ne
spoke more as a duty than from inchha-
ton, In part he said;
Il feel embarrassed in being obliged TO
address you as president Of the Nallonai
Civic Federation, because feel that II VIII
be impossible 10 avoid referring 10 inc
CORPORATION with which l am connected
and awning l can say about arhlTatlon'
conp,lsory or otherwise. i liable 20 be
misunderstco cod. As to my position regarding
trade agreements. l hold the same views
now that ] did at the banquet OF the Ma
tional Civic Federation before l was elected
ns president. ! have had no reason to
change them | said then that ! believed
in trade agreements, but that they should
he kept scrupulously inviolate by labor
as well az by capital.
THAT the agreement with the INTERIOR
ouah company was broken by its recent
employees every one admits. That was
proved by their national officers, and II
speaks well for organized labor that the
national officers promptly repudiated the
strike. The question OF wages or hours OF
labor was Of little or no importance com
pared with the question Of the keeping OF
the agreement which was violated. What
occurred through the violation Of this
agreement was simply deplorable.
sUulike manufacturers whose employees
arc IN strike. a CORPORATION like the Inter
borough In case Of a strike, cannot wait
until the question at issue Il argued OUT
Its duty strike or no strike, Is TO 90 us VI
most 10 give uninterrupted servlce 70 Wy
public In order to do this the lnterOorough
company was compelled 10 prepare lseu
for any disagreement with labor when
might occur, so that in case OF trouble
tFaffic would continue. The company had
TO continue not with temporary, but with
a permanent operation Of the road, When
Il came to taking back our former employ
ees we were prepared for permanent opera
tion Of the road, and we could only take PACK
men In positions which had not been llled.
The attitude OF the company has never been
anita gonistic TO trade agreements ana the
freedom Of the men TO affiliate with trade
organizations was never inteHered Win
] think, because OF some apparent mis-
apprehension on the part Of those who
chose to misinterpret the action OF the COM
pany as being inspired by unfriendliness
TO labor unions, | should say that nothing
Of the kind was in our mind. The breach
Of the agreement, however, prevented any
thing being done in the direction OF dealing
with them afterwaTd.
In the course Of a conference with repre-
sentatives Of the Civic Federation / was
quoted as saying that | was in favor OF
compulsory arbitration as applied TO public
service corporations. / was simply asked
II there could be arbitration in cases like
this, where an agreement had been violated.
] replied that j believed IL could not be
possible unless both sides could be com
PEELED 20 live up TO the award Of the arbi-
tration. That was all said or intended TO
convey"
Mr.. Belmont said he did not care to com-
NIT himself TO a direct opinion "a 10 com
pulsory arbitration lest he should be mis-
understood.
Ex-Mayor Seth Low dcPlored the Inter,
borough strike and said that no one could
suggest any way out Of such difficulties
e1cept through compulsory arbitration.
Capitalists said that labor was unfair and
irresponsible and labor said, Men are not
slaves and cannot be compelled 70 Work
against their will
In common law. said Mr.. Low, such
combinations as corporations and labor
unions we're both conspiracies. Without
the privileges given by statute, as Illustrated
iu both combinations, neither could com
hine Viewed from this point. compulsory
arbitration might be insisted upon and
made practicable
sThs State he continued, can secure
the acceptance by both parties OF the award
Of arbitration by providing that failure
10 aTbtrate or 10 abide by the award 81 the
arbitrator shall work a forfeiture Of the
privilege OF combining. The community,
therefore, "a not helpless in the matter.
The question then il why should II not
insist on such legislation limited at INST
If thought. ncccssary-to pubic service
corpomtions?"
The marlborough strike he said, showed
she necessity Of legislation az a remedy for
Everett p. Wheeler. who has been agi-
tating for compulsory arbitration for years,
said that il was entirely practicable.
"Iet a law be Tassed prohibiting lockout
OF strike which affects the public, unless
the matter in dispute Is first taken before an
impartial tribunal as provided by law,
said Mr.. Wheeler. That law should apply
first 10 public utility coTpOi atoms and
carrying companies
The courts in many cRseS he said, pro-
vide for compulsory art itration by appoint
ing referees, whose decisions have 10 he
accepted. lie lied Supreme Court de-
cisons which he sdid were 10 all intcnts
and purposes compulsory arbitration.
James p. Archibald. representing the
unions, read an address against com
pulsory arbitration, IN which the usual
arguments against II were repea'ed Ralph
VI. Easley explained the functions Of the
State Arbitration Board. which has no
power 10 enforce It's decisions.
Bishop Potter said that neither Mr.
Wheeler nor Mr.. low had been explicit
enough He smoke in favor Of arbitration
generally.
new general executive board 81 the
federation was cleCted j. was slightly
changed from the old board.