The Mankato free press., 1915-11-26
From Wednesdays Daily.

Compulsory arbitration, enforced by
the government, as remedy for
strikes and ck-outs, was advocated
by +. M. Currier, in paper delivered
at last nights meeting of the Social
Science club I'm the library of DIR. j.
w. Andrews. The subject of the
paper WAS THE Colorado Labor Sit
uation. Past and Present" The dis
cussion was led by G. J. Miller, whose
view rather favored the side of the
miners. Mr.. Currier said i'm part
Last December President Wilson
announced the appointment OF Seth
Low of New York, Charles w. Mills,
coal operator, and Patrick Gilday.
an official of the United Mine Work.
ers, as a committee to deal with labor
troubles in Colorado.
"On Janaury 19 OF this year the
committee sent letter to each of 1872
coal operators I'm Colorado, offering
its good offices In any way I'm which
we can be of service The letter ex-
pressed the hope that plan might
be. worked out for easy access to
officials. in order that grievances
might be considered and adjusted, and
expressed desire to be OF service in
helping develop such a plan.
"On February IA letter rejecting
the offer of the committee by a large
number of the operators was made
public. Meanwhile, J. F. Wellborn,
president of the Colorado Fuel and
Iron company, had appointed David
Griffiths, former state mine inspect
or. as mediator between the COM
pany and its employees. At the same
time notices were posted at the var
ious mines. inviting employees to Sc
lect a representative to meet Mr..
Griffiths and the officials of the
company. This was done, and nine
teen such representatives met I'm the
offices of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company on January 10 last.
What matters were discussed and
what measures, II any, were deter
mined upon, the letter from Mr. Well
born does not state. II does state,
however. that the plan was received
most cordially by all of the delegates
I'm recent months Mr.. Rockefeller,
Jr.. spent considerable time making
a personal trip through the coal
regions of Colorado, gaining first
hand Information by talking with the
miners and their families. discussing
with them their grievances and the
merits of his plan for more co-opera-
tion between themselves and the
company. The result of all this is
that 1t has caused a much better con-
dition to obtain in that section, and
prospects are now more favorable
than for years past. for peace and
prosperity to reign in Colorado.
"It would seem that all the loss,
trouble and suffering. caused by
strikers In that state in the past could
have been avoided IL both sides had
observed the Golden Rule, but. then.
that method, IL practiced. would re-
move nine -tenths of all troubles in
this world. and our human nature is
so constituted that while knowing
this to be true, we refuse to practice
what we preach.
There is no doubt that an aroused
public opinion will have more in
fiuence in settling labor troubles than
all the laws In existence. backed up
by state troops. II would seem that
some form of arbitration. made COM
pulsory by the national and state
authorities, and obligatory upon both
parties in the controversy. would go
a long way in preventing strikes and
lock-outs.
Several European countries have
been forced to do this in recent years.
to protect the national interests In
time OF stress. Even now the present
administration at washington is sug-
gesting the government ownership of
munition plants, steel mills and other
sources of production. as possible
necessity in the program OF preparing
for possible war. Under our form OF
government we would be practically
helpless In war time. should condi-