The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04

titled to and what he would really be willing to accept. So, I say, the Erdman Act contemplateS, as we think and as we have tried to administer 1t, that the duty of the mediator Is not to form a judgment of how the controversy ought to be settled, but to find out how 1t can be settled-to discover, so to speak, the
 weak point on each side; to see where the needful concession is likely to bring about settlement, so that, at the proper time and after the negotiations have continued as far as useful, the medlators themselves may suggest terms of settlement which they have, by pre- vious intimation, been advised both sides would be willing to accept Happily that result has been reached In practical ly every instance
 "The essential merit of this plan Is that 1t brings about, or aids in bringing about, voluntary settlement. No rec ord--no minutes of the meeting are kept. The interviews are most formal, first with one side and then with the other, the mediators expecting that they will be received with frankness and told truthfully and sincerely the situation from the point of view Of the party with whom they are then in conference. And so, In that way they lead along until frictions which still exist between the
  haps, would be unable to allay, are by this method relieved and a settlement brought about. 1t has this advantage, this fundamental advantage-that 1t Is a voluntary settlement Neither party has been defeated. There is no judgment against anybody. There is no award which Is contrary to anybody's sense of justice. And there Is no sting of de- feat Each party can say, can say truthfully, while there was failure to get all they thought they ought to have, nevertheless they, upon consideration of the whole matter, believed that the set clement effected was in the best interests of all concerned. More than that, 1t brings about the resumption of friendly relations and the taking up at once of the work in which both parties are mu- tually engaged. That is the thing in which society is interested. That Is the thing which the community demands not how 1t shall be settled, but that it shall be terminated and that the busi- ness of the country go on uninterrupt- edly.
 Promotes Good Feeling.
 'I am very happy to say in this im- mediate connection that so far as 1 can observe, the results of the controversies with which I have been connected have been the restoration of even more friendly feelings than existed previous to the actual disturbance; that Is to say, sensi- ble men-and men on both sides are sensi- ble men-do not precipitate grievances without some reason. The failure to se- cure what they think they are entitled to, of course, leads to more or less un1rlend- liness or bitterness of spirit, unkindness' want of loyalty, want of interest In the work in which they are engaged ana that uoooasarf1V pharac cfQriZpa disa Qreements of the kind in question. It has happened, so far as I have had experience with the matter, that when a settlement has been effected after nego- tiatfons have progressed, and by such aid as the mediators were able to give by such advice as they felt justified in giv- ing, all that bitterness and unkind feel ing seems to have largely disappeared, with the result that the relations of the employer and the employe after the set clement are more friendly, more self-re- spectful, more considerate of each other, than they were before the controversy arose.
 T was quite impressed on one occasion after bitter contest, which continued through three days and practically three nights. When, at last, the adjustment was reached, the parties came together and there was almost a veritable love feast in the room, which was very grati- flying to me-
 T believe that in this plan there is the germ of valuable idea which may be developed to very useful results. It is certainly an experiment, so to speak, along the line of composing the relations so all important between the public serv- ice corporations and their thousands and of thousands of employees, which 80 far has justified it's trial. The record, think, is one to which we may look with satisfaction"