The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-05-08
TRADE AGREEMENTS


with All classes ~ citizens writes Jo-
seph Il. Buchanan IN the New York
Journal. While trades unions do not
and probably never xiil sanctlen what
Il known as cpnpp lsorS ,ai.bitla ton t
that ii, trials Of grievances by law
made courts they prefer tneliation
and anaicabIe adjustment to warfare. \
And the answer, Nothing to arbi-
triita,D is not so often made as 1t was
a few years ago to labor's requests
for conferences with employers upon
questions Of disagreement.
Thus while labor has not by any
means abandoned the strike under all
circumstances nor employers the lock
out. there is an ever increasing tend
ency toward the adoption OF trade
agreements including provisions for
the arbitration Of disputed matters
Generally speaking, however, II re-
mains for employers and the unions
to devise and work out practical and
satisfactory methods OF arbitration.
A noticeable instance Of the WORKING
out Of arbitration is presented In the
compact between the American News
paper Publishers association, which In
ciudes about $50 OF the leading news
papers Of the country, and the Inter
national Typographical union with its
more than $4,000 members. The initial
agreement between these two great
associations covered only one year and
provided for the arbitration of dis
putes that might arise in the max
ing of contract and under the con-
tract after it was made. The arbltra-
tion board under both these agreements
consisted OF one representative Of the
publisher and one representative OF.
the union, these two TO select third
member or chairman. This method
was found to be unsatisfactory. as II
was necessary to 90 outside OF the
confines Of tina printing industry to 50.
cure aFchalrman, and In nearly an in-
stances the man selected was totally
unfamiliar with the working conditions
in newspaper Office.
The American Newspaper Publish
ers' association met In convention In
New York In February, and a new
agreement, which had previously been
form ulated by the executive council Of
the International Typographical union
and the special standing committee Of
the American Newspaper Publishers
association. was indorsed at that con-
Yentlon. This agreement embraces q
radically different method OF arbitra-
ton from what has heretofore been a
part Of any agreement Ia this country
that Ia, any agreement of national scope
The new arbitration agreement pro-
vides for an arbitration board compos-
ed OF three members representing the
union and three members representing
the publishers, all six experts in the
newspaper field. and this board is to
settle disputes without the aid Of a
chairman or umpire. Before the con-
vention Of the American Newspaper
Publishers association last February
James III. Lynch, president Of the In
ternational Typographical union, In re-
ferTlng to the new agreement. said:
The third agreement, which comes
before your convention for action, VIII
be etfectiye on May IL you approve II
and in it's working method embraces q
most radical departure from the ar.
bitration idea that has heretofore OBJ
tanned. In place Of board composed
of three members, with a chairman
usually selected without regard for his
knowledge Of the newspaper publish
Ing business and working conditions in
composing room and whose decision
was usually q hit and miss affair, we
now propose a board composed of three
members who have most intimate
knowledge Of newspaper production
and three members who are presumed
TO have knowledge Of conditions that
obtain In composing rooms.
Il am aware that this Is to a large
extent an experiment In Industrial af.
fairs on the North American continent
although II has obtained for years In
England. am confident however
that in all cases coming before the trl
bunal constituted as outlined eventual
decision viii be rendered, although In
some cases there may be delay. That
delay, however, will not be near rs
great as the delay that now accompa.
MES almost every case arising under
the present agreement.
There is one feature in the agree.
ment that Is especially merltorious, and
that IL the clause that allows the repre-
sentatlves Of both parties to make nee
essary changes at any time that there
appears to be necessity for the changes.
For nearly six years the members of
your association, with one or two ex-
ceptlons, have enjoyed industrial peace.
This Is also true OF the members Of the
International Typographical union en-
ployed by you. We have both profited
by the agreement. We may not have
secured all that we thought we were
entitled TO, but at least we have main
tanned friendly relations. and In the az
gregate we have produced your news
papers without interruption. aud our
members have had the opportunity to
labor unlmpeded by the strike
The international Typographical I'M
ion Is the oldest international union In
this country and Is counted among the
progressive and at the same time con-
sentative organizations. 1t Is not sur
prislng, therefore, that 1t negotiated an
arbitration agreement which marks an
epoch in the attempt to secure indus
trial peace.
----~-------------- 1872
Good Advice 70 Fellow.
Somebody gives the following anti