Rock Island Argus., 1906-12-04
AS TO LABOR DISPUTES.
Federal Commission of Cancellation and
Arbitration Needed.

The commission appointed by the
president Oct. Is. 1902. at the request
of both the anthracite coal operators
and miners. to inquire into. consider
and pass upon the questions in con-
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, find
ings and award expressed the belief
chat the state and federal govern
ments should provide the machinery
for what may be called the compul-
sorry investigation of controversies be-
tween employers and employees when
they arise" This expression of belief
is deserving of the favorable considera-
ton 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 Jan. 1. 1881, to Dec. 81,
1900, there were strikes affecting H.
800 establishments and 6,105,694 en-
ployees were thrown out of employ
ment SDuring the same period there
were 1,005 lOckouts, involving nearly
10000 establishments, throwing over
a million people out of employment.
These strikes and lockouts involved an
estimated loss TO employees of $307,-
100000 and to employers of $143, ,00O,
600, total of $450, 100000. The public
suffered directly and Indirectly prob
ably as great additional loss. But the
money loss, great as 1t 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 ap-
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 a
misunderstanding by each of the
others rights. aggravated by an un-
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 judicial
spirit by disinterested body repre-
senting the federal government such
as would be provided by a commission
on Cancellation and arbitration. would
tend to create an atmosphere of friend
illness and concillation between con-
tending parties, and the giving each
side an equal opportunity TO 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.
In this age of great corporate and n
Dor combinations neither employers nor
employees should be left completely at
the mercy of the stronger party to a
dispute regardless of the righteous
ness OF their respective claims. The
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 convenience, for the question Of
just and proper public policy must also