The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-09-04
many SOLUTIONS Of
| LABOR PROBLEMS
OFFERED
Rev. w. n. Matthews Points
Way to Success in Bringing
About Better Conditions
EDUCATION ONE OF
THE
Tolerance, Arbitration and a
Study of Relationship 9th
'er Features Considered
ONE OF
TIE THINGS

WI
Stuay OF relationship, arbitration.
loiefatlon, education and cultivation.
are the hve points made by Rev. W..
II. Matthew's of the First PRESBYTERIAN
churcn as means Of bringing about a
Detter condition as affecting the prob
teihs OF capital and labor In an adj
aress delivered by him Sunday even
ing when labor unions of the city at
TENDED services in a body.
mat there Is an opportunity in
Grand Forks for carrying on a part
" inc work was also pointed out by
ann. ana he urged the university to
investigate the question as a field of
aclivity That could be made profitable.
me relationship between capital
labor is n Of the most import
ant studies for this generation. Lead
e.s IN our unions are recognizing
thls as the great need in labor or
SANITATION. One of the leaders in
our local unions told me several years
ago that this was to be the great
purpose Of the unions, not agitation.
u investigation" said Rev. Mat
|thews.
Some cay, send the sons of toll
back to the soil. l am free to adj
NIT That sending a large number of
MEN back to the soil would solve a
part of the problem. Some who are
%laboring in the great cities and living
In unhealthy tenement houses could
find health and ~sustenance on the
farm. Yet we must consider their
tastes and their training. Many are
not fit for the farm. 1t is too late
for them to learn to piow the field.
A farm house would be a prison to
a large percentage of their wives for
the only little touch of happiness
which comes into their life is when
they take a short ride on the street
cars or go through the big stores down
town. Before we may send these men
TO the farm let us nswer the ques>
tion, why have we left the farms?'
II We were more willing to live the
simple life ourselves it would be
easier to get others to live it.
Study the Relationship
II believe that the member of the
, labor union should be educated con-
|. corning the relationship of capital and
labor. 1 think something can be done
in this city which will help solve the
. PASOASAt anu WAACu LldJ UO Iukou I'll
by other cities. Let the university or
the Y. NJ. c. A. or both take up the
question. The labor unions should
understand that it is simply for the
purpose of seeking light. Put the
head of the sociological department OF
the university in control of the move.
ment and give everybody a fair deal
and free speech, even if the speech
be of a socialistic character. Prof
Graham Taylor, now president of the
= Chicago Theological seminary, exert.
ell a tremendous influence on labor
conditions in Chicago for he has
made choice to live among the work
ingmen and has kept in closest touch
with them in every way. AS one
e OF the arbitrator in several Of the
important disputes between labor and
i capital. ne has been able to WELD q
L mighty influence.
II II feel that this is q work for our
y university and that it will, If carried
q on in the proper spirit, be productive
u of great good. Investigation is nee
Y, cssary to solve the great problems OF
capital and labor.
Use Local Boards
u Arbitration is necessary. I do not
4 know that it would be best to have
a board under the control of the gov
II eminent who would do this work, but
Il | would like to see a law compelling
$ capital and labor to submit their
questions under certain conditions to
arbitration. Perhaps the only way to
make this effective would be to have
= a board under the control Of the gov
u eminent, but I believe We ought first
to have a local board acquainted with
Q the local conditions pass on disputes.
, II the decision of this board was I'M
q satisfactory there could be an appeal
= to the government board and the sub
mission Of the facts and figures gath
cred in the Investigation.
federation is the third solution
: suggested for the problem of capital
and labor. 1t is a great mistake to
encourage bitterness between the
two. 1t is a mistake for the labor
agitatcr to seek to make men dis
satisfied. 1t is also a mistake for q
manufacturer association to swing
the pendulum of progress backward
and deny the right of men to organize.
That right was, after long debate and
consideration by the wisest men in
the world. finally fully recognized by
the principal nations.
Sec Both Sides
Labor should try to look at the
!. question from the standpoint of capt.
tai and capital should try and look
at the question from the standpoint
OF labor. This can only be done by
following the suggestion OF the fourth
word which l present as a solution
of this problem. namely, education. To
be tolerant men need to know some
thing about each others aims. pur-
poses and plans. l think the employees
. should know. in a general way. about
the condition Of the business of his
employer.