Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1906-12-08

of course include employees in navy
yards, ~arsenals, and the like.
Investigation of Disputes Between
Capital and Labor.
The commission appointed by the
President October 49,. 1902, at the
request of both the anthracite coal
operators and miners, to inquire into,
consider. and pass upon the question
in controversy in connection with
the strike in the anthracite regions
of Pennsylvania and the causes out
of which the controversy arose, in
their report, findings, and award ex-
prest the belief that the State and
Federal governments should provide
the machinery for what may be call
ed thu compulsory investigation OF
controversies between employers and
employees when they arise This
expression of belief is deserving of
the favorable consideration Of the
Congress and the enactment of its
provisions into law. A bill has al
ready been introduced to this end.
Records show that during the
twenty years from January /, 1881,
to December 81, 1900, there were
strikes affecting 1880 establish
ments. and 6,1O5,694 employees
were thrown out of employment.
During the same period there We're
1905 lockouts, involving nearly 1O,-
coo establishments, throwing over
one million people out of employ
ment. These strikes and lockouts
involved an estimated loss TO en-
ployees of $SO7,OO0,OO and to em-
ployers of SAB, 0O0, 900, a total Of
S450,O00, 900. The public suffered
directly and indirectly probably as
great additional loss. But the money
loss, great as it was, did not measure
the anguish and suffering endured by
the wives and children of employees
whose pay stopped when their work
stopped, or the disastrous effect Of
the strike or lockout upon the bust
ness OF employers, or the increase in
the cost of products and the incon-
venience and loss to the public.
Many of. the strikes and lockouts
would not have occurred had the
parties to the dispute been required
to appear before an unprecedented
body representing the nation and.
{ face to face, state the reasons for
/, their contention. In most instances
the dispute would doubtless be found
{ to be due to a misunderstanding by
{ each Of the others rights, aggravated
| by an unwi1lingness of either party
to accept as true the statements Of
the other as to the justice or injus
tice Of the matters in dispute. The
exercise of a judicial spirit by a dis
interested body representing the Fed
eral Government, such as would b.
e provided by a commission on concil
: iation and arbitration would tend t
create an atmosphere of friendlines
and Cancellation between contendini
S parties; and the giving each side Al
n equal opportunity to present fully it
h case in the presence of the othe
e would prevent many disputes froT
: developing into serious strikes o
lockouts, and, in other cases, woul
/ enable the commission to persuad
d the opposing parties to come t
d terms.
.e In this age of great corporate an
labor combinations, neither employ
l. ers nor employees should be lie.
is completely at the mercy of tn
T. stronger party to a dispute, regarC
ct less of the righteousness of their r.
al spective claims. The proposed mea
r ure would be in the line of securin
De recognition of the fact that in man
ia strikes the public has itself an int
est which can not wisely be disr
BdIuSu ali lHlelGSL uOl uiclSi9
general convenience, for the que
III ton of a just and proper public poi
IN cy must also be considered. In a
1t legislation of this kind it is well
ct advance cautiously, testing each ST.
IL by the actual results; the step pr
w posed can surely be safely taken, f
of the decisions of the commissit
y would not bind the parties in leg
nd fashion, and yet would give
ry chance for public opinion to crysts
he I le and thus to exert its full for
&C. for the right.
a Withdrawal Of Coal Lands.
1t is not wise that the Natl,
10 should ALLEVIATE lis remaining CO
lands | have temporarily wit
he drawn from settlement all the Ian
he which the Geological Survey has
lie dicate1 as containing, or in all pro
.ty ability containing, coal. The que
lie ton, however, can be properly 81
in tied Ci ly by legislation, which in
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