New Britain herald., 1919-10-16
LABOR, THE CONFERENCE, AND
 THE COAL STRIKE.

In Washington sits a conference of men representing the public, agricui- tural interests, capital and labor, debating over the issues that are Of interest to all of us, straining at the bonds that have confined the activi- ties of both capital and labor and tryin~ to reach an answer to the ages-old question of relations between employer and employe. Both labor and capital are striving, we take it., to gain a decided advantage over the other side, while the farmer and the public representative sit and look on ready to step into the breach when the occasion arises and bring about a settlement, if possible. One of the important questions of discussion is that of adjustment of difficulties through arbitration, and it has been suggested that the steel strike, sup posedly now in progress, be settled by this method. Arbitration is the panacea advanced by labor for the ills of the financial world.
 Meanwhile, out in Indianapolis, Ind, a branch of labor-the mine workers-has issued call for gen. eral strike to take place on Novem- Der 1, arbitration or no arbitration. John L. Lewis, acting president of a n1inprS' tjnn telegram from Washington which re- quested that he talk with authorities there at once by saying that he would do so, but said that the strike has already been called. Arbitration was attempted, he claims, but the oper- ators of the mines refused to grant labor's demands; therefore, there was no further attempt to settle matters. The strike weapon is taken up.
 We take it, then, that arbitration means nothing more or less than an agreement by the powers in charge to any demands that labor might see fit to make. It seems that this has been the general plan. The workers make their demands, get them re- fused, and quit. There is no com- ly been no attempt at one lately At a time when production of coal ranks with the need of operating our rail- roads for the sake of humanity, labor in the coal mines asks that it's hours be shortened and that it be given a great increase in pay-more than the operator or the consumer can stand. At a time when coal will be needed to keep people from death by freez-
 ing, labor wishes to curtail the output and threatens to stop it entirely un- less it's threats meet with hearty &C., cord on the part of the operators. It is fine recommendation for the "arbitration' idea-this latest devel- opment.
 In Washington, again, labor is conference unless it agr0es to arbi- trate matter that is already a stale issue. The steel strike, to our mind, does not need to be arbitrated; it has already been lost by Ia Dor. Arbitrc- ton now means that Gary and other capitalists will have to reopen a fight that they have won.
 Why not arbitrate the coal strike Let the conference get to work upon 1t at once and let us see what the reasons for and against it are The public is interested-it could not be more so-and might as well get the facts. But, as preliminary to this arbitration, let us adopt a set of laws, under emergency orders through Congress- that will mako 1t suro that 1 labor and capital will 1.-Two up to the , decision of the conference at which the public is represented. If the puu- lie finds that capital Is to blame, let us be sure that capital will be pun ished If 1t does not live up to the orders of the conference; also, let Us be sure that labor will fare likewise, If arbitration is to be compulsory then observance of arbitration must