The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-09-07
LABOR AND CAPITAL.


have referred 10 the invest cation OF
International controversies under q sys-
tenn which does not bind the parties 10
accept the findings OF the court OF IN
quiry This plan can be used in disputes
between labor and capital. in fact. h was
proposed 80 a means of setulng such dis
putes before Il was applied 10 information
Al controversies. IL Is as important thai
We shall have pace at home as that We
shall live peaceahly with neighhoring ma
lions. and peace H. only possible when
IL rests upon justice. In advocating arbi-
tration q differences between large cor
porate employers and their employees I
believe we are defending the highesf 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 10 be dealt with
the employer may please Tho question
s0rnetirnes asked. Can / not conduct nv
business 10 suit myself?' is n paus bic
one. but when = man in conducting his
business attempts 20 arb trariiy Tx the
conditions under which hundreds " en-
ployes are TO live and 20 determine tho
future OF thousands Of human beings. |
answer without hesitation that he mas
TO right 10 conduct his own busines IN
such way rs TO deprive his employees
SUIT oi happiness To support this posi-
ton. ! need only refer 10 the laws reCu-
lating the safety Of mines. the factory
laws fixing the ge ~ which children can
be employed, and usury laws establishing
The rate ~ interest The effort Of the
employer 60 settle differences without ar
against those who work for him and 10
estrange them from nina condition de
plOrable from every standpoint
The Strike a Two Edged Sword.
nut II II IL unwise 10 make the en-
po-er the solo custodian OF the rights
and interests Of the employees. IL Is eq any
unwise TO give the employees uncontrolled
authority over the rights and Interests
Of the employer The employees arc no
more 20 hc trusted TO act unselfshiy and
disinterestedly than tho employers In
fheN AL IN = n NJ 49,.
they may not do injustice but even for
felt a large future gain. The strike. the
only weapon Of the. employe at present is
a two-edged sword. and max injure the
workman as much a. the employer. and
even when wholly successful Is apt 10
leave a ranking N ne bosom OF the
society's Claim.
Socety, moreover has something at
stake as well as the employer and en-
ploye. for there can bc 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
pea ceful means. IL the permanent. impair
tial board is created. TO which either
PARTY OF an Industrial dispute may appeal.
or which can Of IL. motion institute an
inquiry public opinion may be relied on
TO force the finding II there il compulsory
submission TO investiss ion. 1t is not nee
csszry that there shall be compulsory
acceptance Of the decision. for full and
fair investigation 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 10 known government by
injunction. AS the main purpose Or the
writ Is to evade trial By jury. IL is really
All attack upon the Jury system ana
ought to arouse an unanimous protest.
SO long the meancst thief is guATan-
tsed trial by jury. jury ought not 20
be denied 10 wage earners However az
the writ Is usually invoked In case Of
strike. the importance OF the subject
would be reduced by the adoption 81 q
system ~ arbitration. because arbitration
would very much reduce, even II ID ala
not entirely remove. the probability OF
stf ike.
THE Eight Hour Day.
Just another Word an regard 10 the
laboringman. The struggle 80 secure an
eich hour day is an interna tinral strur
gle and IL Is sure to be settled IN favor
~ the worlxingman. The benefits OF the
labor saving machine have not been dis
tributed with equity The producer has
enormously multiplied his capacity. but
30 far the owner n the mschine has re-
ceiv.d too much 81 tho increase and the
laborer too little Those who Oppose tho
eight-hoUr day do u. ! am convinced
moro because OF ignorance OF conditions