The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1918-08-08
!. n .s1Arbitrate!
By BOOTH HARRINGTON
OF TIE Yfgiianfes

In wartime the strike is not the rem.
cdy for profiteering. Publicity and ac-
tion by the government are the RENE.
dies for proftecring. Proflteering that
brings on a strike Is, In effect, not bet
ter than treason; but strike may It.
self be an attempt to 'proflteer" and
therefore not better In result than
treason. Every sensible person. how
ever understands that workmen are
entitled to as high wages as they can
get without interfering with the utmost
possible efficiency OF industry engng-
ed In the prosecution OF the war. A
strike does interfere with such Ell
cheney, and therefore means larger
casualty list and increased danger TO
the country. That Is 20 say: II am
war Industry workman on strike I am
prolonglng the war and adding 10 the
risk OF Americas defeat In the war.
This means that cause death and
wounds to a certain number Of ,Ameri-
can boys who would have come home
safe and sound to their mothers II l
hadn't gone on strike. That is the sim
pie truth and II am impeding n war
| industry by going on strike. might
Just as well have torn and tortured the
bodies Of those boys myself. The re-
sponslbillty In 80 terrible that no work.
man who understands II would take II,
except to avoid n greater amount OF
torture and death nc home through
starvation wages.
Arbitration will give him what he
needs and what he justinnbly wants.
The whole country understands that a
workman cannot live today on the
wages OF ten years ago. Wages have
got to Advance. OF course. a. The price
OF commodities advances: and the
price OF commodities advances. OF
course. M wages advance though II II
to the advantage OF the workman 10
let the price OF commodities begin TO
advance frst. But his wages must
take account OF higher prices, and per-
init him not only life, liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness. but allow him
10 save. az well. That IL all that any
man on this earth IL entitled to wheth-
er be be garbage man or kaiser; and
II IL all that IL worth getting: and the
ideal OF this country IL that every man
shall have II. This 10 what we are
fighting for; that no man shall take
away this right from another man.
that no man shall make another man
his slave. as the Germans have made
conquered labor their slave and as
they would make slaves of us II they
conquered us.
Now such II the temper Of our coun-
try that the responsibility for strike
which means more death. more Grip
pling. more binding. more shot away
faces. for our young men. sons OF
workingmen and sons OF capitalists.
fighting side by side and comrades
"over there" as they will be over here
when they come home-the RESPONSE
hiity for such strike II an Infinitely
heavier and more dangerous thing
than those who rashly assume that re-
sponsibility can know. and no decent
human being could be 10 selfish and 30
treacherous 10 his country as knowing
~ 10 bring about such a strike.
And the temper Of the country in
these days II 20 know causes as well
as results. Where the grcedlness OF
pronteer has caused strike. his money
win not be envied him for he shall not
have II. nor his liberty either. And II
IL unthinkable that American work
men. or workmen who are human
beings. for that matter--it is unthink-
able that they will strike. even for mere
justice. without having 10 the last ut
most atom OF their energy pressed for
settlement by arbitration.
The syndicate service. founded by
Samuel Gompers and representing the
point OF view of the American Fedora
tion OF Labor, reports an address by
William Mosses. president of the Pat
tern Makers Union OF Great Britain.
Mr.. Mosses was speaking In the Labor
Temple in San Francisco. He said:
"We were requested 20 abr0gate our
working rules and agreements
10 give up everything that tended 10 re-
strict output. Being convinced
that this was necessary. unless We de-
sired 20 see the entire world subJugnt-
ed by German autoeracy. we recon-
aA'hN'A. Ahat 'Ht AhA'h7 "hnthit " Ah'
request made by the government.
A.. This meant that there was 10
be no stoppage OF work during the war.
II meant the acceptance OF compulsory
arbitration. We have secured
better results through arbitration than
by resorting 10 the strike, which should
be used as last resort after all else
has failed. IN this II done. the strike
weapon will rest IN Its seabbard."
And Mr.. Moses said another thing
worth thinking about. To-day labor in
Great Britain is more prosperous
than ever before In It's history.
Our influence II greater than ever be-
fore and our workers are enjoying
wealth beyond the dream OF avarice.T
Not only h arbitration necessary.
but II PAYS