Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-26

strike and the railroad strike as In
developing plans 80 that they will
not periodically re-occur. 1t is not
enough to know that we shall have
coal this winter or that railway traf-
nc Is not now suspended. III the peo-
pie of this country are to be healthy,
happy and prosperous. we must know
that some plan is being evolved TO pre-
vent these strikes from re-occuring
In view of these facts, Roger w. Bah
son was this week asked to make
forecast as TO future labor develop
ments. His diagnosis Of the strike
situation follows:
when In Washington during the
war, assisting the SECRETARY of Labor,
It was evident that the students of Ia
Dor problems were divided into two
distinct groups; one group believes In
compulsory arbitration as illustrated
by the Kansas Industrial Court, and
the other group stands purely for con-
citation without any compulsion.
Conservatives and radicals can be
found In both groups. Investigation
leads me to believe that there is
field for both of these lines of work.
Labor disputes in connection with
general industries, such as the tex
tile industry, the boot and shoe Indus
try, and possibly the steel industry,
should be kept on n Cancellation basis.
1t surely would be n mistake to at
tempt compulsory arbitration in con-
nection with these businesses which
are operated solely for profit. The
- t,apr
these Industries is by keeping these
industries In two major labor groups.
one group TO be strictly union" and
the other group strictly "non-union.
Let the union group adopt the closed
shop and let the other group be strict
ly non-union. Then let the two
groups compete do not mean neces-
sapily IN production, but rather see
under which system the public, the
employees and the stock holders, all
combined, are most prosperous. My
own guess is that none of these three
parties would long be healthy, happy
and prosperous with all union" or
with all mon union" When one group
secures control. It becomes inefficient
careless and arrogant. My guess Is
that an industry would be most pros
porous and all concerned In II would
| be rendering the most service and be
| happiest IL the industry were equally
| divided into a union and non-union
| field So much for general industry
When disputes arise. only concilia-
| ton should be applied by n thirc
! party. There should be no compul-
sorry settlements in such cases.
when, however, we come to trans
portation. fuel, public utilities such a.
water. light and gas. or to the distriOi'
/ ton Of milk, bread, etc. we find
group of industries to which compul
sorry arbitrat ation must be applied. Th'
first two groups to which such strong
arm methods will be applied are thu
railroads and coal mines. First le
me say that the railroads and the min'
operators are themselves largely e
blame for present troubles. Although
the owners OF these properties ar
now behaving themselves, they hav'
not always done so. Most Of the un
wise methods that labor leaders ar
! using today We're applied by tho rail
roads and mine operators OF twent.
now are only reaping what they hav
sown. Nevertheless. two wrongs d
not make a right. Our nation mus
have transportation and fuel at
fair rate and the operation Of its rail
road and coal properties must be un
disturbed by either labor leaders c
stock market operators. Regardin
the railroad situation; TO secure a fai
rate the Interstate Commerce Con-
mission has been organized, and
secure undisturbed transportation tn
Railroad Labor Board has been ere
- ated. The first OF these-that Is, III
- Interstate Commerce Commission
functioning very we'll. and the sirius
- gle is now over the Railroad LabC
Board"
At this point Mr.. Babson was TO
Of a strong feeling on the part of bot
the railroad managements and the en-
- ployees that the Railroad Board WI
not properly made up. Concernir
z this, Mr.. Babson stated:
a Experience has shown that boar
consisting OF three groups Zone gro,
4 representing capital one group re-
= resenting labor, and one group re
resenting the public) do not functiC
6 well. The group representing capt.
10 vote In one body for the corporation
the group representing labor vote
one body for the wage workers: th
leaves the decision TO the three M
!. who represent the public. The pro
lens involved are too great 20 perm
leaving the decision TO three M
chosen more or less for political re
y sons To hSFe the Railroad Lab
Board or any other such board pro
erly function, FIVE, seven or nine m
should be selected who represe
neither the corporations nor the wa
workers. but who represent the n
ton. These men should be paid lar
salaries, given dignifled positions. a
pointed either for life or for 10
ut terms, and treated like the Suprer
~ Court of the United States. These IN
ii should gradually build up co
o. based upon their rulings, seeking {
,v advantage OF no one group, but ratf
nt the welfare Of the nation as who
which In the end would be for the b'
o. interests of both the owners and
wage workers. The decisions of u
- board as applying to transportati'
public utilities and similar confiic
i should be absolute and final.
II Railroad owners are now Wilt
to accept compulsory arbitration. |
the labor leaders are not. Some ella
II the labor leaders are afraid Of losi
II their jobs. but / do not believe &
II to be the reason. They. appear TO
II honest In their belief that enforc!
II men 10 ,unrll for tarnAt is only a 70