The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-04
Government.
lnvestiaatio Of Disputes.

Investigation OF Disputes.
The commission appointed by the
president October Is, 1902, at the re-
quest Of both the anthracite coal oper-
ators and miners, to inquire into, con-
slider, and pass upon the questions 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, finding, and award expressed
the belief that the state and federal
governments should provide the ma
chinery for what may be called the
compulsory investigation of controver-
sizes 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 already been introduced
to this end.
! Records show that during the twen-
ty years from January 1, 1881, to De-
cember 81, 1900, there were strikes
affecting 1859 establishments, and
6,1O5,694 employees were thrown out of
employment. During the same period
there were 1905 lockouts, involving
nearly 10000 establishments, throwing
over one million people out of employ
| 1%r;1y
volved an estimated loss to employees
of 1901, 100000 and to employers of
$143, 900, OOO a total of $45O,OOO, 900,
The public suffered directly and in
directly probably as great additional
loss. But the money loss, great as 1t
was, did not measure the anguish and
suffering endured by the wives and
children of employees whose pay stop
ped when their work stopped, or the
disastrous effect of the strike or lock-
out upon the business of employers,
or the increase in the cost of products
and the inconvenience 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
appear before an unprejudiced body
representing the nation and, face to
face, state the reasons for their con-
tention. In most instances the dis
pute would doubtless be found to be
due to a misunderstanding of each of
the others rights, aggravated by an
unwillingness of either party to ac-
cept as true the statements of the
other as to the justice or injustice of
the matters in dispute The exercise
of judicial spirit by a disinterested
body representing the federal govern
ment, such as would be provided by a
commission on Cancellation and arbi-
tration would tend to create an atmos-
phere of friendliness and Cancellation
between contending parties; and the
giving each side an equal opportun-
ity to present fully it's case in the
many disputes from developing into
serious strikes Or lockouts, and, ir
other cases, would enable the commits
sion to persuade the opposing parties
, to come to terms.
In this age of great corporate and
labor combinations, neither employers
, nor employees should be left complete
!, ly at the mercy of the stronger party
to a dispute, regardless of the right
: eousness 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 can not
7 wisely be disregarded; an interest not
f question of a just and proper public
policy must also be considered. Ir
} all legislation of this kind it is we'll tC
advance cautiously, testing each steI
by the actual results; the step pro-
, posed can surely be safely taken, fol
the decisions of the commission would
not bind the parties in legal fashion
I and yet would give a chance for pub
lie opinion to crystalline and thus tc
, exert it's full force for the right
Pure Food Measures.
The present Congress has taken long
strides in the direction of securing
proper supervision and control by the
/ national government over corporations
engaged in interstate business-and
| the enormous majority of corporations
of any size are engaged in interstate
, business. The passage Of the railway
, rate bill, and only to less degree the
, passage of the pure food bill, and the
) provision for increasing and rendering
more effective national control over the
beef-packing industry, mark an inn
, portant advance in the proper direc-
ton. In the short session it will per-