New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-05
TRADE UNIONS AGAINST ARBTTRA
IION.

An observation which was made in
these columns recently upon the attitude
and purpose of the strikers in the British
railroad troubles is strongly confirmed
by the news concerning the operations
OF the government commission which is
inquiring into the reasons for that strike
and is seeking some means Of estab-
fishing more satisfactory and secure
conditions in the industrial world. We
arc told that the representatives Of the
trade unions who have thus far been
examined have not one good word TO
say for Mr.. Lloyd Georges scheme Of
Cancellation boards or for any interven-
ton between the men and their en-
ployers. saving that If direct agree
ment cannot he reached the men cannot
impartial umpire. In other words, there
must be no arbitration, but employers
and employees must he left 10 fight their
differences ont. and incidentally the pub
lie must be left TO suffer the chief burden
o. Inconvenience and loss.
That accords with what We said about
the unwillingncss of the unions 10 have
the dispute settled by intervention or
arbitration. and their desire 10 play the
game which was recently tried in France.
namely, to make the government itself
subject 10 trade union dictation But
that attitude Of the unions will not, we
think. commend itself 10 the best public
sentiment. 1t is certainly at direct vari-
ance with the increasingly strong ten
denotes Of the world in other respects.
We are quite ready 10 cOncede that it is
desirable TO have disputes between en-
plOyers and employees adjusted by direct
negotiations between them. and we be-
lieve that in the great majority Of cases
this can readily be done: or could he If
there were no meddling Of third parties.
So we have always held that the settle
ment Of international disputes by direct
diplomacy is preferable TO arbitration,
and that in most cases it is possible, as
the record has amply proved. But in
few cases direct diplomacy fails, and
then arbitration is preferable Ia war.
So III a few cases employers and en-
ployes cannot agree. and then arbitration
i preferable 10 n strike.
Another illogical feature Of the unions
attitude is this. that while they oppose
impartial intervention or mediation by 4
government board they insist upon par
tiSan meddling and Intervention by out
ctr Of
not willing 10 lot the dispute be- confined
10 the actual parties TO it, but insist that
the employers shall consent 10 treat, dis
cuSS and make terms not with their own
employees or their representatives hut
with representatives of other, alien and
in some cases competing and antagonIs-
tic concerns. Thus n railroad company
in the south Of England must negotiate
terms with its men, not with the men
themselves or their representatives from
their own number but with men from a
shipyard in Scotland or from mines i'm
Wales and the propretors of n factory
must accept terms concerning their
wOrkmen, not from those workmen or a
mittee Of workmen from rival factory.
That is not the attitude Of those who
ia a reasonable fashion are seeking in
dustrial equity and peace, but rather of
those who are aiming 10 establish a
tyranny over both labor and capital and
10 subject the government Itself TO their
dictatiOn. II has not triumphed i'm
france because Of the robust resolu-
ton Of the government. II is not 10 be
believed that il will permanently tri-
umph anywhere where there is a lust
and enlightened public opinion or where
the workingmen themselves have a spirit
OF fairness and Of law-as the ma jority
Of them everywhere have at heart.