The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1906-09-08
LABOR N CAPITAL,
Arbitration Advocated.

l have referred to the Investigation o
International controversies under q sys.
tenn which does not bind the parties t.
accept the findings of the court of in
quiry. This plan can be used in disputes
between labor and capital. in fact, it was
proposed as a means of setuing such dis.
puteS before it was applied to information
al controversies 1t is as important tina
we shall have peace at home as that we
shall live peaceably with n~eighboring ma
tons, and peace is only possible when
it rests upon justice. In advocating arbi-
tratiOn of differences between large cor
pOrate employers and their employees,
believe We are defending the highest in
tereStS OF the three parties to the dispute,
viz, the employers, the employees and the
public. The employe cannot be turned
over to the employer to be dealt with as
sometimes asked: ''Can l not conduct my
business to suit MYSELF" is a plausible
business attempts to arbitrarily fix the
conditions under which hundreds of en-
plOyeS are to live. and to determine the
future of thousands of human beings,
answer, without hesitation, tina he has
no right to conduct his own business in
such a way as to deprive his employees
Of their right to life; liberty and the pur-
ton. L need only refer to the laws regu-
lating the safety of mines, the factory
laws fixing the age at which children can
the rate of interest. The effort of the
employer to settle differences without ar
bitration has done much to embitter him
against those who work for him and to
estrange them from him-a condition de-
plora bic from every standpoint.
The Strike a Two-Edged Sword.
ployer the sole custodian of the rights
and interests of the employees, 1t is equally
unwise to give the employees uncontrolled
authority over the rights and interests
more to be trusted to act unselfishly and
disinterestedly than the employers. In
their zeal to secure a present advantage
they may not do injustice but even for
felt a large, future gain. The strike, the
only weapon of the employee at present, is
a two-edged sword, and may injure the
even when wholly successful is apt to
leave a rambling in the bosom of the
wage Garner that should not be there.
Society's Claim.
Society, moreover, has something at
stake as well as the employer and en-
ploye, for there can be no considerable
strike without considerable loss to the
public. Society, therefore. is justified in
demanding that the differences between
capital and labor shall be settled by
peaceful means. If the permanent. impair
party of an industrial dispute may appeal,
or which can of it's motion institute an
Inquiry. public opinion may be relied on
to force the finding. II there is compulsory
essary that there shall be compulsory
a~cceptance OF the decision, for a full and
Adi Will IN almost every
case bring about a settlement.
Government by Injunction.
NO reference to the labor question is
complete that does not include some men
ton Of what is known as government bv
injunction. AS the main purpose of the
writ is to evade trial by jury, it is really
an attack upon the jury system, and
to arouse an unanimous protest
long as the meanes thief is guaran-
teed a trial by jury, a jury ought not 20
be denied to wage earnerS. However. as
the writ is usually invoked in case of > |
strike, the importance Of the subject
would be reduced by the adoption Of q |
of arbitration, because arbitration
very much reduce, even il IL did
not entirely remove, the probability of a |
strike.
The Efght-Hour Day.
Just another word in regard to the |
laboringman. The struggle to secure an
day is an International strug- |
gle, and 1t is sure to be settled In favor |
Of the workingman. The benefits of the |
abor-saving machine have not been dis |
with equity. The producer has
multiplied his capacity. but
10 far the. owner of the machine has re-
,eived too much Of the increase and the
too little. Those who oppose the
day do 1t, I am Convinced. |
more because Of ignorance Of conditions |