New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-20

sentatives Of companies and represents
tives Of employees who themselves arc
employed by the same companies, and
failing Of an agreement by arbitration
they are to he arranged mutually or ny
the Board of Trade. The above is to be
y temporary arrangement pend'ng re-
port Of the commission as TO the pest
means for settling disputes.
Fifth--Both parties are To give every
assistance TO the special COMMISSION OF
inquiry. the immediate appointment OF
which the government has announced
Sixth-Any questions which may arise
as 10 the Interpretation or TINS asTee
n1ent are to he referred to the Board OF
Trade.
The agreement was signed by all pres
ent at the conference The special COM
mission will consist Of five members, m
Guiding representatives OF the employers
and workmen in equal numbers. and an
impartial chairman. The names of the
submission will be announced next
Tuesday. and the commission will imme-
diately proceed with the inquiry.
Assurances have been given by both
parties to the agreement that they VIII
accept tho findings OF the commission
and the government has assured the rail-
way companies that it will propose 10
Parliament next session legislation pro-
viding that increase i'm the cost of labor
due to improvement of conditions of the
railways will be valid justification for
reasonable increase in charges within
the legal maximum.
Predictions Not Fulfilled.
The second day of the strike brought
little change over the conditions of Fri
day. The mems predictions that they
would tie up all the railroads in the
kingdom and the managers promises to
maintain a curtailed but adequate SER
vice both failed of fulfilment. The men
estimated the numbers Of their fellows
on strike to-day at 100000. gain OF
$4,000 over Friday; but the Board or
Trades estimate gave only 10000. while
the railway managers held even that TO
be an overheard estimate.
Traffic with the south Of England was
well maintained, but in the north and in
Wales ii was greatly crippled.
The scarcity Of food had not begun TO
be felt I'm London. In this city tonight,
except for the soldiers in the parks and
stations and crowds In a few depots
waiting for late trains, life moved in its
normal channels.
The railway strike has proved that the
state must have larger powers for set
Ting disputes between employers and
employees. The grievances Of tho rail-
way men were trivial in comparison with
the privations and sufferings of the main
body of the working people OF the coun-
try. When the suburban train services
are suspended, supplies of bread, milk
and meat cut off and the cost Of living
is doubled or trebled labor agitation for
recognition OF the rights OF trades union
ism becomes al once vital question for
the masses. When the wage Garner can
not pay starvation prices and children
die for lack of milk, while employers
cannot supply work for men. the neces-
sity for state Intervention with decisive
effect is apparent.
Compulsory Powers Necessary.
Ia such o crisis not only must the
state prevent the holding up Of food
supplies and supplies for industries,
call out reserves and territorial forces
for keeping the trains running and
maintaining order, but II must also have
compulsory powers of bringing disas-
trous strikes to an end by investigating
n and settling grievances.
vi \ general railway strike would have
y been impossible if the Board OF Trade
had possessed adequate powers of super
Nsng the operation Of the concilistion
boards, Of enforcing arbitration and
compelling the railway managers 10 REQ
cgIize the rights Of the representatives
Of organized labor and TO deal directly
with them.
The conflict came abruptly IN con
sequence of the success of the London
Transport Federation and the seeth-
ing unrest Of the working popula-
ton during torrid midsummer. but it
vas irrepressible. The conciliation proc
esses Of the Board Of Trade were favor
able to the working interests, and the
railway settlement Of 1907 had supplied
the mechanism for the discussion OF dis
puted questions Yet the trade unonists
were dissatisfied because the influence of
the employers and of the corporations
was entirely on the side Of unorganized
labor.
Something more was involved than
meetings OF managers and trade union
lists in the same room. There were easy
methods OF counteracting the decisions
81 the Cancellation boards and most Of
the promotions and all the best chances
were for the men unconnected with the
unions.
There was abundant evidence that the
labor leaders favored "A big conflict
which would settle once for all the
question Of their representative charac-
ter. Bowormau and other champions of
the Labor party were organizing a cam
paign for the renewal OF the eight-hour
movement for oil trades. and were eX-
pecting 10 make il a dominating Issue in
rhe working world. with a menace of
nnassing the forces of organized labor
for a supreme struggle with the employ
ers.
Opinion Against Strikers.
Whether reduction Of hours would
have been a more effective issue than
an increase OF wages is doubtful. but