The Tupelo journal., 1906-09-07
q AND CAPITAL.
Arbitration Advocated.


I have referred to the investigation OF
international controversies under a sys-
TEN which does not bind the parties to
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 1T was applied to internation-
al controversies. 1t is as important that
we shall have peace at home as that we
shall I've peaceably with neighboring ma
lions, and peace is only possible when
it rests upon justice. In advocating arbi-
tration of differences between large cor
porate employers and their employees, /
terests of the three parties to the dispute.
viz. the employers. the employees and the
public. The employe cannot he turned
over to the employer to be dealt with as
sometimes asked: ''Can / not conduct my
business to suit MYSELF" is q 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, I
answer without hesitation. that he has
no right to conduct his own business in
such a way as to deprive his employees
suit of happiness. To support this posi-
ton, 1 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
DlLraClOn mas uOIe muCu 10 CIlDltleT MIN
| against those who work for him and to
estrange them from him-a condition de-
plorable from every ~tandpoint
The Strike a Two Edged Sword.
But if it is unwise to make the EN-
ployer the sole custodian of the rights
and interests of the employees, it is equally
authority over the rights and interests
of the employer. TIL employees are no
| more to be trusted to act unselfishly and
disinterestedly than the employers. In
| tbair zeal tn secure a present ADVANTAGE
they may not do injustice but even for
felt a large future gain: The strike, the
a two-edged sword, and may injure the
workman as much as the employer, and
even when wholly successful is apt to
| wage Garner that should not be there.
Society's Claim.
Society, moreover, has something at
stake as well as the employer and en-
strike without considerable loss % 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
tial board is created, to which either
party of an industrial dispute may appeal,
or which can OF its motion institute an
to force the finding. If there is compulsory
submission to investigation, 1t 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.
complete that does not include some men
ton 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, a 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 Eiqht-Hour Day.
Just another word in regard to the
laboringman. The struggle toi secure an
eight-hour day is an international strug-
gle, and it is sure to be settled in favor
of the ~workingman. The benefits of the
labor-saving machine have not been dis
enormously multiplied his capacity. bul
ceived too much Of the increase and the
laborer too little. Those who oppose the
eight-hour day do it, l am convinced
more because Of ignorance of conditions
those who toll. The removal of work from
the house to the factory has separated
the husband from his wife and the father
from his children, while the growth OF
our cities has put an increasing distance
betwee the home and the workshop
Then. too, more is demanded of the labor
ing man now than formerly. He is a citi-
zen as well as a laborer, and must have
time to study questions If he is to be ar
Intelligent sovereign. To drive him froz
his bed to his task, and from his tasi
back to his bed. is to deprive. the family
of his company. society OF his service
and politics OF his influence.
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