Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-11-18
Arbitration of Industrial Disputes

Arbitration of Industrial Disputes
One of the grayest social questions that demands
q solution is the problem Of establishing a satisfac-
tory relationship between capital and labor. At
present the two apparently stand in bitter opposition.
This Is really an anomalous condition, because one
cannot get along without the other. Without labor
capital is helpless. Without capital the hands OF
labor are tied. And yet, in spite of this interde-
pendence and inalienable community of interest, or
ganized labor and organized capital are at war. This
is a condition that should not be permitted to exist
by q society that pretends to be governed by law
and order.
Not long ago one Of the worst strikes this country
has ever known occurred in West Virginia. The sit
nation became so bad that it bordered on civil war
and anarchy. Martial law was declared and for
many months a large section Of the state of West
Virginia was ruled by an arbitrary military tribunal.
When the true state of affairs became known, con.
gress ordered an investigation. The investigation
revealed that both the miners and the mine owners
were to blame--but chiefly the latter. Ih mine oper-
ators desired to run their mines like feudal barons
and resented the reasonable demands of the workers
as presumptuous interference with property rights.
The miners, who were chiefly Immigrants from south
ern Europe, were guilty OF wanton acts of destruce
ton. When the impartial congressional investigation
had revealed the actual facts the force of public opin-
ion soon compelled the mine owners to modify their
undemocratic and unreasonable attitude and sobered
the miners to listen to reason.
Similar strikes are now taking place in Michigan
and Colorado, and in certain eastern cities. Thous.
ands Of dollars worth of property have been de-
stroyed and lives have been lost in the riots that
have taken place. A resolution providing for an
Investigation in Colorado and Michigan is now before
congress and it will undoubtedly pass.
Industrial war is an evil just as war between
nations is an evil. The strikers are not the ones
who suffer most. Their innocent wives and children
suffer more. And the general public is affected. A
strike in any of the industrial centers of the east
is felt here in North Dakota. Something should be
done to remedy this situation.
The Industrial Disputes Investigation act of Can
ada offers a partial solution. Under the provisions
Of that act no strike can be declared nor no lockout
ordered until thirty days notice of such contemplated
action has been given to the Minister of Labor. he
is authorized to provide an impartial board of three
members, who have authority to investigate fully and
completely the facts pertaining to the question IN
dispute. The findings of the board are published in
the, Canada Gazette, and thus the public is informed
concerning the precise circumstances of the situation.
1t enables the public to determine the degree OF
reasonableness or unreasonableness of either side
practically assures in advance the defeat of any
aAction taken by either party contrary to the findings
or communications of the board.
The act has been in force since 1907 and, while
It has not entirely prevented strikes and lockouts,
1t has on the whole operated very satisfactorily. 1t
is rarely, if ever, that a strike or lockout can sue
coed which has public sentiment against it.
New Zealand and the Australian commemorative
have gone further than Canada and provided for COM
pulsory, arbitration. In the opinion of many eminent
economists that is the only solution of the problem.
The attitude of both capital and labor have to
be considerably changed before a satisfactory modus
viyendi can be established between the two. Capital
must recognize that the laborer has the right to
earn q fair wage, so that he can maintain a decent
standard of living for himself and his family. Labor
must recognize that capital is entitled to a fair return
on the money invested. The public has an interest
in the peaceful continuation of industry, and before
q strike is declared or a lockout ordered the public
should know the facts in the case. The greatest
force in the world is public opinion. In a republic
lick ours it is irresistible. And when the public is
made cognizant of the facts a just decision is almost
invariably arrived at.
The difficulty about being a doctor of cities is that
It is rather difficult to think up any prescriptions
that not already had earnest consideration.