The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-07
LABOR AND CAPITAL,
Arbitration Advocated. ,


l have referred to the investigation of
intCrna uonal controversies under q sys-
TEN which does not bind the parties to
accept the findings of the court of in
quiry This plan can he used in disputes
between labor and capital, in fact, it was
proposed as means of setuing such dis
putes before it was applied to internaton-
al controversies. 1t is as important that
we shall have peace at home as that We
shall live peaceably with neighboring ma
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 employee cannot lie turned
over to the employer to be dealt with as
the employer may please The question
sometimes asked: Can not conduct my
business to suit myself" is n plausible
one: but when man in conducting his
business attempts to arbitrarily fix the
ployes are to live, and to determine the
future of thousands of human beings, I
| answer. without hesitation. that he has
no right to conduct his own business in
such way as to deprive his employees
of their right to life, liberty and the pur-
| suit of happiness. To support this posi-
ton, | need only refer to the laws regu-
lating the safety of mines, the factory
laws fixing the age at which children can
be employed, and usury laws establishing
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-
plorabie from every standpoint.
The Strike Two. Edged Sword.
But If it is unwise to make the en-
ploycr the sole custodian of the RIGHTS
and interests of the employees, it is eqI ally
unwlse to give the employees uncontrolled
authority over the rights and interests
OF the employer. The employees are no
NOR NOR 10 De trusted to act unseltishly and
dislnterestedly than the employers. In
their zeal to secure a present advantage
| they may not do injustice but even for
felt large future gain. The strike, the
only weapon of the emplOye at present. Is
two-edgcd sword and may lniure the
workman as much as the employer, and
even when wholly successful is ant to
leave ranking in the bosom of the
wage Garner that should not be there.
Society's Claim.
society, moreover, has something at
stake as we'll as the employer and en-
ploye for there can he 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
'i"i podtu is Created. 10 winch either
party, of an industrial dispute may appeal,
or which can of it's motion institute an
inquiry. public opinion may be relied on
10 force the finding. If there is compulsory
submission to investigation. it is not nee
essary that there shall be compulsory
acceptance of the decision, for a 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 mem
tlon OF what Is known as government by
injunction As the main purpose of the
writ is to evade trial by jury. it is really
an attack upon the jury system. and
ought to arouse an unanimous protest
So long as the meanest thief is guaran-
teed a trial by jury, jury ought not 20
| be denied to wage earnerS. However. as
the writ is usually invoked in case of a
strike, the Importance of the subject
would be reduced by the adoption of a
system OF arbitration, because arbitration
would very much reduce, even if it did
not entirely remove. the probability of a
strike.
The Eieht-Hour Day.
Just another word in regard TO the
laboringman. The struggle to secure an
eight-hour day Is an international strup-
gle, and 1t Is sure to be settled in favor
of the worIingman. The benefits of the
labor saving machine have not been dis
tributed with equity. The producer has
enormously multiplied his capacity. but
so far the owner of the machine has re-
ceived too much of the increase and the
laborer too little. Those who oppose the
eight-hour day do it. am convinced
more because OF ignorance of conditions