The Monticellonian., 1906-09-06
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
Arbitration Advoeated


 international controversies under a sys- tenn 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. Il was proposed as means of setuing such diS- putes before it was applied to interua tiou al controyersies- It is as important that we shall have peace at home that we shall ltNe peaeeaby with neighboring na- tions. and peace is only possible when 1t rests upon justice. In advocating arbi- tration of differences between large cor porate employers and their employees l 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 he turned over to the employer to be dealt with as sometimes asked G Gan not ''o conduct mg business to suit myself?" is a plausible business attempts to arbitrarily fix the conditions under which hundreds of em- ployes are to live, and To determine the future of thousands of human beings, answer, without hesitation. that he has TO right to conduct his own busines; in such way as to deprive his employees suit of happiness. To support this posi- tion. l 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 embttter him against those who work for him and to estrange them from nina condition de- plorable from every standpoint.
 The Strike a Two Edged Sword.
 But If It is unwise to make the em ployer the sole custodian of the rights and interests of the employees it is equaHy unwise to give the employees uncontrolled authority over the rights and interests of the employer. The employees are no disinterestedly than the employers S 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 employe al present is two-edged sword, and may nJure the workman as much as the employer. and even when wholly successful Is apt to wage earner that should not be there. Society's Claim.
 stake as well as the employer and em- 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. impar- tial board is created. to which either 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. If there Is compulsory submission to investigation. 1t is not nee essary that there shall be compulsory fair investigation will in almost every case bring about settleme mt.
 Government by Injunction.
 No reference to the labor question is complete that does not include some men tion 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 SQ long as the meanest thief is gu,ran- teed a trial by jury, jury ought not 70 be denied to wage earners.. However. as the writ is usually invoked in case of a strike. the importance of the sub iect 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 Eight Hour Day.
 Just another word in regard 10 the laboringman. The struggle tc 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 la bor saving machine have not heen 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 aR' the laborer too little. Those who oppose ne eight-hour day do it. I sm convinced mol because of ignor nee ot conditions