The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-03-05
AN INDUSTRIAL
COURT PROPOSED
Draft Submitted by H. Alvin
Moore)

posed Industrial Court, which has
lust recently been submitted to the
members of the Industrial Code
Commission of this State, by H. AL
vim Moore, one of it's members, has
Just reached the Federation office.
The Bulletin, some weeks ago,
predicted that the workers of the
State might have to face the issue
of an industrial court being pro-
posed to the next legislature that
would curtail, and, in many in
stances, completely take away the
rights guaranteed labor and all
free men by the constitution of the
United States.
The draft at hand proposes plac-
ing in the hands of court of in
dustrial relations, of this State, the
control over the adjudication of all
industrial controversies. The draft
proposes that the court be compos
ed as follows: To consist of seven
members: the three members of the
Public Service Commission; the La
Dor Commissioners; the Director of
the Department of Agriculture; and
the State Mine Inspector.
The proposed composition of the
court itself is indicative of the real
purpose in mind-not so much de-
sire to avoid unnecessary conflict,
as to prevent labor from securing
iustice. sFiye of the members of
such a court would be men whose
training in life lacks that experience
necessary to do justice to one side
of the conference.-the side of Ia
Dor; and in the case of the other
two members proposed, the Labor
Commissioner and the chairman of
the Industrial Insurance Commls-
sion. Labor would have to depend
on tickle political chance to secure
anyone at all as a member OF the
court who wuold understand their
side of any problem.
The author of the proposed plan
concludes with a quoted statement
from Secretary of Wilson, which
follows:
Modern strikes tend more and
more to affect not only the en-
ployer and worker, but all VINO
come within range of the economic
controversy. At no time has this
been more important than at pres
ent.
The right of man to cease
working for another for any rea-
son that is sufficient to himself is
the basic element Of human liber-
ty. The right of any man to re-
fuse to operate his plant at any time
he desires to do so is the exercise
of a property right guaranteed by
the Constitution. 1t does not fol-
low that because these rights exist
II is necessary to exercise them.
They must nevertheless be safe
guarded. Having done that ana
having devised the machinery by
which Justice can be scurd and by
which everybody at interest mas
the opportunity of knowing that
Justice has been secured, 1t is not
likely that the right to cease WORK
will be exercised by sufficient num-
bers. or that the right to operate
industrial plants will be carried 10
such an extent, as seriously to al
feet the welfare of the rest OF the
people. It is with such thoughts as
these in view that l urge my tel-
low-countrymen the exercise OF the
utmost tolerance and the maximum
of good will and mutual forepear-
ance during the trying days that
are upon us.
Inc duInOr Ol tue PioH
have completely failed to analyze
the above quoted statement from
Secretary Wilson, who does have a
thorough understanding of all SIDES
of this problem, and who mas pre-
sented it in the above-quoted state-
ment fairly and clearly. A ilt'ie
application of his sound wisdom ana
fair Judgment would bring to the
proposers of our industrial court d
little more favorable consideration
at the hands of labor, and the peo-
pie generally, than otherwise VIII
be given it.
The foregoing scheme to strange