Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-02-05

| because the demands arc unjust or un-
| reasonable; as there are other occasions
when even the certainty of failure should
not deter workingmen from making a
stand for some vital principle. Most dis
putes are not of this extreme kind. The
situations which lead to strikes are us
ually complicated, involving many points
| of controversy. some of which may be
vital to one side and others vital to the
other. In this very fact lies nearly al
ways the possibility of compromise and
adjustment. seldom indeed Is there no
basis for bargaining and mutually ad-
Vantageous understanding, provided there
is time, and some mechanism satisfac-
tory to both sides, for carrying on nego-
tiatlons and reaching an understanding.
The extraordinary success which has
marked the operation of the Efdman act
for preventing and adjusting strikes on
the interstate railways. during the five
or SIX years since 1t has come into actual
use, shows what can be done by intelli-
gent mediation when both sides have
strong and responsible organizations and
a mechanism exists i'll which both sides
have confidence, Unfortunately the scope
of this act is confined to those who are
engaged in the operating departments of
interstate railways. AS an Illustration
of the possibilities in the direction of
voluntary mediation ii is most suggestive.
although naturally many things must be
taken into account In applying its lessons
to other industries in which either en-
ployers or employees are less effectively
is less obvious and direct than i'll the
railway service.
Economists and social workers. We re-
peat. are not concerned solely to main
tain peace That is much, but ii is not
everything. They believe in peace in so
far as II contributes to prosperity for all
classes and to justice for all. III pros
perity becomes too one-sded and justice
is forgotten, then peace may prove to be
of value only to those on the favored
side, to those who are pfotiting by inJus-
tice; and the public interest may demand
warfare rather than peace. That can be
so, however, only in case there is no
method except that OF open warfare 1or
securing justice. There should be some
other method. Warfare, even between
nations, is a very crude and imperfect
method of maintaining rights and resist
ing oppression, although it may remain
a necessary last resort until the nations
have provided substitute. As between
capital and labor, open cOntlct, III Ihe
form of strikes and lockouts, boYcotts.
blacklists, and closed shops by or against
the unions, is also a crude and imperfect
means of securing justice and protect,
ing hard-won rights, Often these 1ali
and strength triumphs over reason and
Justice Nevertheless industrial warfare
must be expected to break out here ana
there, however it may be hed6ed ABOUT
and controlled, until other ways are de-
vised and brought into general use iof
accomplishing what IS recognized as the
legitimate purpose of strikes and lock
outs. O0lE let II not be 1OfSnlie1 TIA
the main thing is not to prohibit strikes,
which could not be done so long as there
is need for them, but to prevent the
necessity for them. Not mere super
fetal appearance of order is the goal
but peace based upon the sure founda-
ton of fair dealing. decent STANDARD
of living fer the families OF WorkinBmeh
and a normal relation between prohts ana
wages between incomes and the cost OF
living, between the interests of produc-
ers and those of consumers, between prl-
vate interests and public interests.
Why a commission? why not nave tns
public or private? There is reason
which appears convincing not only 10 the
social workers and economists VINO nay Z
proposed the plan, but also TO an OF
those as far as we can learn, VINO. IKE
the Secretary of Commerce and Labor
and the Commissioner of Labor IN the
federal government and the dlrectloh OF
the Russell Sage Foundation. would nat
urally be regarded as consplcuousiy !he
ones to undertake it, if any existing
agency could do so. That reason hes IN
the magnitude and delfcacy OF the II
quiry, in its fundamental character, III us
demand for broad statesmanship Tor a
understanding OF confiictinS
points of view. for vision and lmaslha-
tion and at the same time Tor hrln
grasp of realities and an appreciation OF
what is and what is not practical Just
because Secretary Nagel ana tomnhS
sioner Neill have these qualities. they
recognize that the proposed inquiry re-
uuires the cooperation OF men OF ana
and of understanding outside oihelat ne
of men who are for the time beng iree
from pressing routine duties and whose
findings would command confidence ana
respect As a United States senator mas
expressed it, what We need Is that tle
nation should summon its wisest aolest,
and hest Informed men TO examine ihto
the matter and to discover how effectlVe-
lv TO safeguard the public interest ana TO
secure to both parties in these lndustrlal
conflicts in the fullest measure their
real interests their full rights, and the
redress of their grievances, without dls-
rupting industry or resorting to violence
IL is earnestly to be hoped, and, we
believe. confidently to be expected; that
when this matter comes definitely before
Congress ii will be considered on a non
partisan and patriotic basis. There Is no
reason why Republican or Democrat
progressive or Conservative, should not
travel together in the middle OF the ROAD
towards that public knowledge ana uh-
of the facts which Is an tllat
the commission would be expected 10 ac-
eomnlish Publicity of an authoritative
and enlightening kind, as an aid in inter
nreting the public duty and responsibility
is the end in view, and the means pro
posed are such as have been tried WIN
conspicuous success, notably in the case
Of the Anthracite Coal Strike Coinihis-
sion of which Judge Gray was chairman