New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1907-08-24
TO PREVENT STRIKES.


Of the country is distui bed by
strikes which, in the opinion Of
many, could be avoided if the pow
ers OF the government were ex
tended, as they should be, to in
clude arbitration, the conclusion
reached by the Arbitration Board
to be final for both parties. If
however, the employer corporation
refuses to submit to this method OF
settling interference with business,
then il remains for the Govern.
ment to step in and go to still
further extremes under its rights
aud provide laws regulating the
pay aud hours and treatmeat of
employees. If this were done
strikes would be a thing Of the
pnst.
That the government has the
right to step in and make such
regulations there can be no ques.
ton. If it has the right to step IN
and say what rate the railroad cor
porations shall charge for freights
and fares, ii can 90 still farther
and prescribe the rates of wages
aud the hours of labor.
Corporations, and these are the
only institutions against which la
Dor is constantly warning, exist
only by authority of the law.
Consequently the law has the right
to provide the regulations under
which they may operate. The law
in this case represents the general
public, and the general public is
always the third party to the strike,
seldom considered by either of the
other two factors, but nevertheless
always affected, and entitled to the
greatest consideration.
Having delved into the fixing Of
rates for one line of corporations
1t becomes the duty of the govern
meut, the servant of the people, 10
extend its benevolence. 1t should |
not single out the railroads and |
say how much they may charge for
their stock in trade, but SO long as
il is taking hand in the regula-
ton OF creatures of its will, il
should step IN and regulate the
rates at which the commodities of
other corporations should be sold.
The enormous dividends of the oil
trnst would net then be possible,
tur the public would be protected
igainst extortionate prices and it
Is the public that is entitled to the
benefit of the laws, not the investor
llone.
SO in the case of strikes. The
interest of the public should be
guarded most carefully, not that Of
he corporation nor OF the laborer
specially. To protect the public
strikes must be made impossible,
md there is but one way to provide
gaiEst them--to establish by law
liked rates Of wages and hours of {
abor for every corporation.
strikes against persons or firms
re merely personal matters, but
trikes against corporations are
ublic matters that must be re- I
ulated by laws. a
Government ownership of public
or corporations existent ;.
My because of powers derived
rom the government, iE necessary I
proper government regulations .
Re enforced. So far as can be seen =
this time these regulations must
'ver not ouly the rates, but the
imitation of the dividends, and
@ pay Of the employee. When
is is provided for, by law repre- \
nting the public interests, strikes 4
orbitant prices, and enormous =
sidends wrung from the public g
II be at an end. W
Let the government step IN and %
,ulste these things as it does the q q
es for the railroads and business a
| not be interfered with because 10
NE greed of the corporate stock >
ders and the efforts of the en-
wees TO combat the grinding
70 process that always follows
attempt of the corporation to =
lire greater dividends ut the
|ense, net only Of the public
|ket bpt of the labor Of the en-