Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-04

troversy in connection with the strike
In the anthracite regions of Pennsyl-
| vania and the causes out of which the
controversy arose, in their report, 1nd-
| ings and award expressed the belief
shat the state and federal govern
ments should provide the machinery
for what may be called the compul-
sorry Investigation Of controversies be
I tween employers and employees when
they arise" This expression Of belief
is deserving of the favorable considers
ton of the congress and the enactment
Of its provisions into law, A bin has
already been introduced to this end.
Records show that during the TWEEN
ty years from Jan. l, 1881, to Dec. 81.
1900, there We're strikes affecting HI
500 establishments and 6.105.694 en-
ployees Were thrown out, of employ
/ ment. During the same period there
were zoos lockouts, involving nearly
10000 establishments, throwing over
million people out of employment.
These strikes and lockouts involved an
estimated loss to employees Of S307.-
100000 and to employers of $143. 000.-
600, a total of $450,OOO.O00. The public
suffered directly and indirectly prob,
ably as great additional loss. But the
money loss, great as it was, did not
measure the anguish and suffering en-
dured 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
business of employers, or the increase
in the cost Of products and the incon-
venience and loss to the public
Many of these strikes and lockouts
would not have occurred had the par
/ ties to the dispute been required to APP
pear before an unprejudiced body rep
resenting 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 d
I misunderstanding by each Of the
others rights, aggravated by an I'M
/ willingness Of either party to accept as
true the statements Of the other as to
the Justice or injustice Of the matters
/ In dispute. The, exercise Of a. judicial
] spirit by disinterested body repre-
senting the federal government, such
as. would be provided BY d commission
on Cancellation and arbitration, would
tend to create an atmosphere Of friend.
Illness and cancellation between con-
tending parties. and the giving each
side an equal opportunities present
fully its case In the presence of the
other would prevent many disputes
from developing into serious strikes or
lockouts and in other cases would
enable the commission to persuade the
opposing parties to come to terms. II
In this age Of great corporate and; la
Dor comb inations neither employers nor
employees should be: left completely at
4 the mercy of the stronger party to- a
dispute regardless !. Of n the righteous
ness Of their respective claims. The
proposed measure would be in the line
of securing recognition of the fact that
In many strikes the public has itself an
interest which cannot wisely be disre-
garded-an interest not merely Of gen
eral onvsnience, for the question Of a
Just and proper public policy must also
be considered. In all legislation OF this
/ kind it is well to advance cautiously,
testing each step by the actual results.
EAe step proposed can surely be safely
taken, for the decisions Of the commits.
/ sion would not bind the parties IN legal
4 fashion and yet would give "a chance
| for public opinion TO scrystalllze and
] thus to exert It's full force for the right
Withdrawal Of Coal Lands. 9. Is
It is, not wise that the nation should
ALLEVIATE Its remaining coal lands.
have temporarily withdrawn from BET,
tlement all the lands which the geolog,
zeal survey has indicated as containing
/ or IN all probab ility containing coal
The question, however, can be proper,
" settled only by legisIat Jon, which. III
/ my Judgment should provide for the
withdrawal Of these lands from sale
1 or from entry save in certain especial
1 circumstances. The ownership would
then remain In the United States,
which should not, however attempt to
work them, but permit them to be
4 worked by private indi Yiduals under q
royalty system, the government keep.
ing such control as to permit it to see
that no excessive price was charged
consumers. 1t, would OF course be ali
necessary to supervise the rates charg;
4 ed by the common carriers to transport
I the product as the rates charged BY
4 those who mine II, and the supervision
must extend to the conduct of the com
mon carriers, SO that they shall In ne
4 way favor one competitor at the ex'
j pense Of another. The withdrawal o.
these coal lands would constitute a
4 policy analogous to that which has
been followed ia withdrawing the for
est lands from binary settlement
II The coal like the forests. should bt
4 treated as the property OF the public
and its disposal should be under condi
tions which would iuure to the benefit
# OF the public as q whole.
! CORPORATION CONTROL.