New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-21
President Amazed at
Weakness of Board
of Mediation.
CANADIAN PLAN
MEETS FAVOR
Through Commission He
Hopes to Find Basis for
Permanent Peace.
lFrom The Tribune Bureau ]


Washington, Aug. 20.-President Will
son has been won over to the principle
of compulsory arbitration. That is the
Interpretation that in we'll informed
quarters is placed on his telegram to
George Pope, president Of the National
Association of Manufacturers, who ap-
pealed to him in behalf of all employ
ers not to abandon the principle OF
arbitration in mediation of the threat
ened railroad strike.
az hold to the principle of arbitra-
ton with as clear a conviction and as
firm a purpose as any one" the Presl-
dent telegraphed to-day in reply, but
unfortunately, there is no means now
in existence by which arbitration can
be secured"
From the lesson of the present crisis,
President Wilson then declares, "some
means must be found TO prevent It's
recurrence" In the commission to be
created to investigate the railway STU
alton he hopes a way will be opened Ito
the discovery Of the best permanent
basis for arbitration"
Mediation Board Helpless.
Those who know the President and
are familiar with the trials through
which he has passed in the last week,
comparable only in their magnitude
with the Lusitania crisis, declare that
he is already formulating plans for
an arbitration commission that, un-
like the present Federal board,
will have power 20 deal with dis
putes of national magnitude. Even
the President has been amazed at
tho belplessness of the United States
Board of Mediation and Cancellation,
which, instead of being able TO take
firm grasp Of the situation, never go'
beyond the stage of subllmated mes
senger service between the two oppos'
inc factions. After this IT is believed
that .he present body will either De
abolished or merged IN the new com
mission.
The President is understood to look
with much favor on the system OF
compulsory arbitration in use IN Gan
ada. Although this has been advo-
Gated for years by economists ana stu
dents of the labor problem, it has never
found followers among employers or
labor unions, both of whom have pre-
f.rred their own ways of settling dis
putes. The plan WAS advanced IN Con-
rress three years ago, but 1T was
deemed too radical step and under
the Ncwlands act, the United States
Mediation Board was offered as a sub
stitute.
How Canada Arbitrates.
Briefly. the Canadian scheme pro-
vides a compulsory truce between labor
and capital for a specified time dur
ing which public commission is 10
investigate the merits of the dispute;
Not until the findings of this board
have been published can either SIDE
take the next step. Thus in situa-
tion like the present railway crisis the
nublic would have a period of per-
hans a year TO inform itself on the
merits OF the eight-hour day and upon
the truth of the railways contention
as TO its cost.
Instead Of merely considering the
claims Of both sides, as is now the
case. on which to determine the YER
dict. there would be an impartial rec
ord Of facts on which to set a pase
line OF truth. Any side that chose to
disobey that verdict, would do so at
the risk of public disapproval and pos
sible retaliation.
Indeed. it would not be surprising
to political observers here, should the
President make the prevention OF any
similar industrial crisis in the future
The issue of the camoaign. Not that
no would attempt TO capitalize what
ever settlement is eventually effected -
for gains on one side are likely to be
offset on the other-but the President
is known TO be dissatisfied with the
kind of campaign that has been forced
Continued on page 2. column