The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-04-20
ARBITRATION THE KEY
TO INDUSTRIAL PEACE
Perfect Equality Of Both Sides
in the Adjustment Of All
Differences.
Recognition of This Principle
Increases Stability of All
Legitimate Investments.

Arbitration has secured industrial
peace for 200 members Of the Amer
lean Newspaper Publishers Associa-
ton, employing four-fifths of all news
paper labor. In six years there has
not been a strike or cessation of work
in any Of the union composing rooms
of our association. There has not
been single disagreement which has
not been amicably adjusted. We are
glad to report that agreements just
signed provide for continuance Of
that happy condition for an additional
period of five years. Neither employ
er nor employee has been subjected
to the wasting effects Of warfare; both
sides have been gamers.
Higher Wages Secured.
The publishers are paying higher
wage. The unions are treating the
publishers with greater respect, great
er caution, greater Justice. Both sides
are pleased. Our principal gain is
not in the troubles we have settled,
but in those we have prevented. Our
labor commissioner reported that the
past year had been the most quiet
one Of our history. There had been
steady improvement of labor conditions
and an increase of peaceful methods.
Mutual Contracts Effectual.
The American Newspaper Publishers
Association in voluntary organization
of 270 papers, covering every consider
able city Of the Union It has no pow
er to compel any member to act, out
side of his own volition. We employ
compositors, stereotypers and mailers
who work under our International
Typographical Union agreement. We
employ pressmen who work under our
agreement with the International
Printing Pressmen and Assistants Un-
ion. We employ photo-engravers who
work under an agreement with the
International Photo Engravers' Union.
These national agreements with labor
organizations are not labor contracts
They simply provide a way by which
each individual publisher may secure
arbitration without interruption to his
business, the national labor organiza-
ton with which the contract Is made
by each publisher, guaranteeing the
performance Of all it's contracts by
unions under its jurisdiction; in other
words, IT. UNDERWRITERS local arrange
ments. Those agreements have stood
the practical, test OF time and: Of wide
conditions. They are workable. 3.
Recognition Of Union.
At the outset, we recognized labor
unions. We dealt with labor represen-
tatives, realizing that when we did so
1ryo oooeo6 +o tho iD1i1y{6,1al
but in doing so we increased the re-
sponsibility Of the union and the union
admitted it's obligation. We accepted
the closed shop. We substantially ac-
cepted the eight-hour day. We assum-
ed that arbitration is possible only
when the parties in dispute approach
the question in a fair and concil1atory
way. We had interests In common
and we dealt on the basis that we were
not members of hostile classes. We
have not wrangled over trtfes. We
have explained our relative positions
and have avoided many difficulties
which arise from haughiness. We have
studied patience. We knew that the
labor question was full of complica-
tions, and that the leaders Of the union
in controlling the men who elect them
to office. We started out to promote
a better understanding between the
association and our employees. We
established a labor bureau and elected
a commissioner with manifold duties.
He assisted in settling labor disputes.
He worked to secure the appointment
of joint national arbitration commit
tees for the adjustment Of labor trOu-
tied. He obtained data upon all sub
bles that could not otherwise .be set
6ects pertaining to the mechanical
work of newspapers. Publishers were
thereby equipped to deal intelligently
with the unions. We cultivated friend
ly relations with the organized wage
earners. Our commissioner attended
their conventions and addressed them.
He did so every year. Their presi-
dents came to our conventions annual
ly and talked to us. They send to our
commissioner regularly the proceed
ings of their conventions, the copies
of their official organ and their reports.
Our dealings have. been marked with
courtesy, promptness and fairness. Dis
agreements have occurred and dia-
metrically opposite views have been
held; but we have always managed to
arrive at some sort Of understanding
which, while not altogether satisfac-
tory has prevented friction and trouble.
Code Of Procedure.
In working out the amicable adjust
ment of our differences we encounter
ed in 1903 q difficulty because we did
not have a code of procedure which
would guide and govern arbitrators in
passing upon questions. Ultimately a
draft was formulated and adopted
which facilitated work and minimized
the occasion for disputes. Later on
we were confronted by the advocates
Of the sympathetic strike. It was con-
tended that our contract could not
prevail if a newspaper had a dispute
with union that was affiliated with
those under agreement. When this
position was taken by the unions we
refused to make any agreement to do
other than pay the scale, and because
of our firmness in that respect the
sympathetic strike idea was abandon
ed. - --e = -
Eriandiv ReIations Main& ainad