Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-30

x.
discharge their primary obligation of sup
mort to their families Whether the rate of
wage be regarded as sufficient or insult
fCient. or the hours of labor De the matter
in dispute. is immaterial in my view IN
reaching the conclusion l have expressed.
Reasonable men. settling their disputes on
these questions. or other matters involving
the relations of employer and empioye' can
with honest intent. settle these olner quts-
tons with reasonable dispatch, while in the
meantime the workman Is earning ms oaliy
wage and rendering his first duty TO society
in the full support Of his own family.
Whatever remains of this dispute can as
readily and quickly be settled by the
sane exercise of fair judgment and the mu-
tual concession of some of the claims ad-
vanced by either party. which Is SO often,
in common experience among men. the es-
sential condition for just conclusion IN
every form of arbitration which does not
involve questions of purely moral or alb
stract right. In other words, disputes be-
tween employer and employee always IN
volve practical questions: they affect prac-
teal matters only, and their solution by
peaceful arbitration must undoubtedly IN
volve the necessity of mutual concession.
Submission of such disputes to fair-minded
and disinterested men rarely results in the
recognition by the arbitrator of the full
claims of either side. But when men thus
submit their honest differences to such form
of adjustment the concessions which either
side yield to the judgment of the arbitra-
ceptance of the award is strong tribute to
the parties affected. and earns only in
creased respect from the community at
large toward those who accept and abide
by the result.
Interests Of the Public.
Il But In reaching this conclusion l can
not overlook the large interest of the public
in every dispute Of this nature. Every
member of society. in whatever work he
Yf1nv ha ie
lection of it's constituted authority. At
the same time he owes the duty Of labor
not only for his own support and the sup
port of those dependent upon him, but for
the common benefit Of all other members
of society. We must all work in the same
fashion and for the same purpose, and to
the same common end. Thrift Is the
mother of success and the maxim in its
practical application and result applies to
every Individual who, as a separate work.
Ing unit. makes up the aggregate of the
nation. The productiveness of each indi-
vidual makes the sum total Of prosperity.
The millions Of bushels of grain which is
sown to supply the need of our own peo-
pie, and is exported abroad in such enor-
nous volume and value as to annually
largely contribute to our ascending bal
ance OF trade. represents the Individual toll
of many millions of farmers throughout
the country. The same may be said of
every manufactured product, but adds in
large degree to our national material
wealth There Is no man in this community
or elsewhere engaged In production from
the soil to feed people, or in building houses
for their occupation and use, or In manu-
featuring the implements of trade, COM
merce, or even household use, whose
failure to continue in honest labor day by
day does not detract from the sum total
of production. The workmans day wasted
means not only loss to him, but multiplied
by many days 30 wasted by any number Of
men. large or small in every community.
creates a distinct loss and injury proper
toned only to the number Of days so lost,
and the number Of men whose idleness pro-
duceS such loss.
The single question which you have SUBJ
mtted to me for my conclusion lies, in my
honest judgment, at the root Of all labor
differences. firmly believe in every mans
rendering an honest days work and re-
ceiving therefor an honest days pay. l am
equally in favor of making that daily wage
as high as conditions will permit, so that
every man, working honestly, may be re-
warded honestly for his own support, and
to provide like support in the most possible
ample measure for his wife and dependent
children. But am profoundly convinced
that all plans of arbitration which involve
as primary element the cessation of labor
In short. strike-whether large or small,
will prove in the end, an utter failure.
The obligation of work was imposed by the
Creator in the primal declaration affecting
all men, That in the sweat Of thy face
thou shalt earn thy bread
Idlers in Every Community.
There are idlers in every community
men who by the mere chance of inherited
wealth or by fortunate speculat ion are re-
Eeved from the need of daily toll There
are others who from sheer laziness refuse
to work and become in the main, the
tramps and hobos of society But these
two classes together numerically repre-
sent such an infintesfmal number compared
with the great mass of working men and
women that it would be practically impossi-
Bile to state In figures the minute percent
age they bear to the number of society at
large. And while 1 have not by any means
sought to master the labor problem as it is
SO called or to determine the just rela-
lions which Should exist between capital
and labor, l am convinced that the true
solution of all these difficulties will be far
more speedily reached when men every
where recognize that continuing in daily
pursuits and the yield of an honest days
labor Is The essential foundation for both
individual and united success. The labor
or every man, artisan or others, in what
ever line of occupation they may be trained
or follow, earns for every individual the
respect of the entire community. We are
a nation of laborers, and daily toll every
where is honored and respected When
then. differences arise between employer
and emplOye, and whether affecting num-
bers large small, the continuance of
every individual at the post of duty with
a fair statement of grievances stated in
temperate language to the public, there will
be found strong community influence far
more quickly developed to command the
Tightening of the burden and the correction
of the wrongs than by any other course of
conduct.
The inconvenience and loss which the
community suffers by any strike, large or
small. has its natural result in largely
Withdrawing the favorable sentiment Of
such community from the cause of the
striking workmen, even though 1t be bot
toned upon the strongest grounds of JUS
tce.
Il firmly believe that when all of US, la
boring in whatsoever field, come to the
common recognition of the duty of eyeyy
man TO render, for the support of himself
and his family and the good of society at
large, an honest days labor, within reason
able hours. we shall have reached the prime
solution of all labor trouble. Peaceful ar
bitration can then be invoked and every
Just cause of complaint which may come
from any particular part of the whole ma
uonal field of laborers will find its over
whelming and controlling support in pub
lie opinion and force those who infiict the
wrong to its prompt correction.
Legislation of Limited Scope.
I'm all of this, legislation federal or state
can have only limited operation. By force