Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18

then the other met with the mediators in
executive session. The matter was
thrashed out carefully on every point
raised. Sometimes after free discussion
claims advanced were abandoned. When
one side had been heard. the other was
admitted and the ground was gone over
with in the same careful manner.
Listening patiently. sometimes arguing
away a fallacious claim. preserving al
ways open and unbiased minds tuned only
to the equities OF the case. the mediators
sat daily till midnight or after. and were
on hand again early the following morn
ing. Bit by bit they whitfield down the
points of difference. yet always preserved
absolute secrecy. never letting one side
know what the other had said or agreed
to-
Finally at o'clock one morning 4 basis
of agreement had been built lD which
sentatives on the one side and the officials
of the railroads on the other as fair and
just and one which both could agree to
without reservation.
In other cases the proceedings have
been much the same. And Il is believed
by many leaders of labor and capital that
at last a way has been found in which
Industrial disputes can be settled without
arbitration and without the necessity Of
going on strike. But. Of course much Will
always depend on the personality of the
mediatorS, and at present both repre-
sentatives of the government appear to
possess and to deserve the absolute con-
fidence and respect of both the employers
and the employed. What the mediators
themselves think about their work must
OF necessity be instructive and interesting.
On recent occasion-October CHAIR
man Knapp made "A speech before con-
vention composed of men who must be
admitted to he experts in railway mat
ters and in it he. talked of mediation. He
referred to the failure of ordinary Judi
cial procedure to meet the issues arising
between workingmen and their employers.
the reasons why the mediation feature OF
the Erdman act had not sooner been
called into service and the deep interest
of the public in the settlement of disputes
without the loss and inconvenience Incl
dent to strikes. He remarked that men
could work not work. as they saw nit.
and that the freedom of contracts must
be unimpared.
Chairman Knapp's Views.
What this plan of mediation permits is
that official assistance. if | may SO de-
scribe IT, which will enable the parties
themselves to compose their differences
and reach an amcable understanding. be
cause. bear in mind. this has been the
guiding thought of those who have acted
in this mediatory capacity, that their
duty was not to determine what settle
ment ought to be made or what settle
ment they thought ought to be made hut
To find out what settlemen could be made;
because | am rather inclined to say there
is no right or wrong about wages or hours
of service. What is the largest compen-
sation for the laborer is not question to
ne determined by appeal TO the statute or
judicial precedent. Broadly speaking.
every man is entitled 10 what he can get,
Just as every employer has the right TO
secure the service he requires as cheap
ly as he can. Therefore. ii is not ques-
ton Of what some one may think is the
right or wrong of the controversy. So
ciety does not care about that We. as
members OF society. are Indifferent as To
whether the settlement effected is just
one or not. What We insist upon * that
it shall be settled, and settled at once. be
cause of the commanding interest which
have in that settlement, in the TACT
that there is A settlement.
My limited experience leads me to be-
lieve that something OF this kind is liable
to happen Strikes do not come out of a
clear sky. The employees are too rea-
sonable have too mucn regard for public
interests. to precipitate an arbitrary con
trOverSy without some notice and some
contention. And. if | may be per-
mitted to digress for moment | desire
TO express here my admiration not only
for the astutenesS. the keen intelligence.
the quick comprehension of every point
in dispute of the officials who have repre-
scented the railway labor organizations. but
also to pay tribute TO their sense of fair
ness and reasonablencss. They have met
issues of this character. so far they
have come to my knowledge. in spirit
quite reasonable, quite as considerable
and concliatory as that which has ordi-
narily been manifested by the railway
managers. But this happens:
The negotiations go or. There is fall
ure to agree. The employer hesitates or
is unwilling to make a further conces-