The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-10-18

(fruln tic f~1tlhneiplan NORM Aincti-
CRn.1
Even though the results OF the In
duHtrlai conference now In session az
Washington should fall far short Of
reasonable expectations, II n sure 10
mark the beginning Of a new era IN
the relations OF capital and labor. na
between themselves and between
both them aud the public.
For the first time IN our national
history, representatives, Of these three
interests have been sun monod by the
president 70 meet In public sessions N
order to formulate Principles and
programs of action designed TO In
sure Justice TO labor and capital and
protection TO the rights OF the cont
munlty.
Many OF the leaders OF both capital
and labor approached with undiaguis-
ed reluctance this open court for dts
cusslon of their claims. which was
called into being b. The president In
response 10 an insistent public de-
mand for such action.
The courage and r-eaourecfuineas OF
the American business man, both In
individual enterprise and in great
combinations. have won for him de-
served reputc throughout the world
and the respect, " not the envy. Of
his competitors In foreign countries.
Yet he has shown "a singular lack OF
capacity to understand and cope with
the labor problem, upon which de-
ponds In no great a degree the extent
and permanency OF his success. Long
after leaders In American finance aud
industry had formed combinations
which startled the world by their
magnitude and were so powerful that
they threatened the security OF popn-
lar government, u was a general pol
Icy In those circles TO deny to labor
The right to organize. TO resist the
principle OF collective bargaining. and
to regard labor as IA commodity which
should he dealt with on q basis OF
coidly calculated supply and demand.
The American business man AS "a
class rejected. moreover. the funda-
montal doctrine that In all controyer.
sizes between capital and labor there
II a third party-the public-whose
Interests are paramount to those OF
either or both OF the other two. Re-
fusinE 10 recognize the public as a
vital factor In the Industrial equation.
the representatives OF capital also set
their faces against the principle OF ar
bitration, which public sentiment "a
forcing to the front nH the most log.-
cal and effective means OF Rvorting or
settling costly conflicts.
Organized labor during us early
NFAAA WIN ~ was MNNtAAHNAN hAA~
matched In power, strongly supported
the idea OF aruitration: us labor gain
ed strength. however. and demon
strated Us ability TO attain It's ends
by force. It's attitude underwent con-
siderable change.
The great Anthracite strike of.i9O2
provided "a convincing illustration OF
the s%oundncns OF the public vicA. Tine
contest between the mine owners and
tho WnTNfHA fWNHHN "A nrFHlNNNH nN tho
industry. dcpriying the people OF the
use OF % natural product which had
become "A necessary Of existence. and
thereby causing widespread hardship.
There arose q universal demand for
settlement, for some program Of Inn
mediate adjustment and tho creation
OF machinery OF Cancellation that
would prevent a recurrence Of the
intolerable condition. Under the en-
nghtcncd leadership OF John Mitchell
the men agreed 10 arbitration Of the
dispute. but tho operators, whose
fight was directed by George +. Baor,
u tho Reading, refused.
Fortunately for tho nation, Theo-
dore Roosevelt was president. and had
the vision and the courage to intor-
Vcne. He asserted the doctrine that
the interests of the public must have
controlling consideration. ana trans
lated u into effective action. By us
ing the influence and power OF his
office he induced the operators to re-
ccde from their untcnahlc position
and ioin In submitting the whole case
to arbitration.
The beneficial effects Of the an
| thracito settlement have been perpet-
uated to this day; the advantageous
results for the operators, the work
Crs and the community are so wei
known that they need no recital Bun
apart from tho practical relief given
TO the onsumcr the settlement con-
sttutcd "a tremendous victory for tho
principle Of arbitration, ana seemed
TO end an controversy as 10 the SUI
perior rights OF the public In such con-
nicts.
Organized labor. however, haH
made vast strides iu power since tha'
timc. and aH We AVE observed, ~
has shown "a disposition to ignore or
eNado arbitration, n to rely upon
force. exercised through determined
strikes, to gain It's ends. Organized
capital, on tho other hand. has cNhib-
tied "a CORRESPONDING tendency 60 in
woke IrIitrution when critical dis-
putcs arse.
Three years ago q severe blow was
administered 10 the principle Of atbl'
traitor and also Co the doctrine OF IN