Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-03-28
STRIKES.
LABOR PROBLEM DISCUSSED BY
HARRIS WEINSTOCK.
Compulsory Arbitration with VOiun.
tary Judgments Is Recommended.
Public. Opinion Would Enforce
Such Judgments. General Public
Usually Greatest Sufferer.

One of the most valuable of recent
contributions to the discussion of la
Dor problems is by Harris Weinstock,
who has just concluded two years
tour OF the principal countries of the
world, in each of which he has been
aided by prominent labOring men and
capitalists. He has been thorough in
his study of industrial and ecOnomi-
cal questions.
Mr. WeinStOck concludes that the
best preventive of disastrous strikes
is something akin to the Australian
arbitration plan. He finds that the
appointment of arbitrators gives the
parties to these contests time to grow
cool, to have the evidence made pub
lie, and to digest the findings of the
commission. He says there is seldom
strike after a thorough threshing
out of the problems at issue before an
arbitration board.
In his findings he notes that en-
plOyers should favor the board of ar
bitration plan because it restraints
unfair men in the ranks of labor
from making unjust demands. 1t also
restraints labor from resorting to
force. to obtain unreasonable de-
mands when it is unwisely led. On
the other hand, labor. he says, should
favor the plan because it diminishes
strikes and lockouts, thereby pre-
venting needless waste of the time
and money of laborers. The great
est benefit is the forcing of unfair
employers to submit their cases to
the light of day. Those who declare
that they have nothing to arbitrate
hn Low
nit their cases to the judgment of
the public.
The students of these problems
of disputes to arbitration is always
followed by the publication of the
facts as found by the board. The
public thus forms it's opinion from
the conclusions of a board fairly
chosen. 1t is impossible for either
party to the controversy to defy a |
well-founded public opinion.
1t is recommended that each dis
putant should choose one member
of the board, and those two choose
third, possibly by and with the con-
sent and advice of the Governor of
the State where the trouble occurs.
Contrary to what might be expect
ed, the verdicts Of such boards prove
to be satisfactory to both sides and
to the public at large, which finally
settles the cause at issue.
1t might be we'll for labor to agi-
tate the establishment of these ar
bitration boards. Even if their pow
ers are not made compulsory, their
decisions clarity the atmosphere and
the side that forces an issue con-
trary to the ruling usually loses, or
works at least under a terrible ham
dicap. The reason for this is that
the public generally agrees with the
decision of the body passing on the
case
1t would be we'll for those inter-
ested directly in the study of these
important questions to make care
full study of the results of arbitra-
tion in Australia.
Mr.. Weinstock is sensible to urge
that the inquiries of arbitration
boards should begin before the par
ties to the contest reach the belli-
gerent stage. He would have COM
pulsory arbitration, but not COM
pulsory judgments. 1t seems that
voluntary arbitration has proved a
failure, and he thinks compulsory
verdicts would fail equally in this
country He thinks that a compul-
sorry submission Of facts to the public
board of inquiry is all that is nec-
essary. The side refusing to make
a strong presentation of its facts
would at once invite defeat