Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-08-29

CSIOu Ill Il1O LCIllpOloly oNSLASAA1OAAS ~
the coal strike and the railroad
strike as in developing plans so that
they will not periodically re-occur.
1t is not enough to know that we
shall have coal this winter or that
railway traffic is not now suspend
ed. If the people Of this country
are to be healthy, happy and pros
porous, we must know that some
plan is being evolved to prevent
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 Ia
Dor, it was evident that the students
of labor problems were divided into
two distinct groups: One group be-
lieves in compulsory arbitration as
illustrated by the Kansas industrial
court, and the other group stands
purely for Cancellation without any
compulsion. Conservatives and radi
calls 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 textile industry, the
boot and shoe industry, and posi-
bly, the steel industry, should be
kept on Cancellation basis. 1t sure
ly would be a mistake to attempt
compulsory arbitration in connec-
ton with these businesses which are
operated solely for profit. The best
means of avoiding trouble in these
industries is by keeping these in
dustries 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
strictly non-union. Then let the
two groups compete. I do not mean
necessarily in production, but rather
see under which system the. public,
the employees and the stockholders,
all combined, are most prosperous.
My guess is that none of these three
parties would long be healthy, happy
and prosperous with all union" or
with all "non-union." When one
group secures control, it becomes in
efficient, careless and arrogant. My
guess is that an industry would be
most prosperous and all concerned
in it would be rendering the most
service and be happiest if the in
dustry were equally divided into a
union and a non-union field. So
much for general industry. When
disputes arise, only Cancellation
should be applied by a third party.
There should be no compulsory set
Elements in such cases.
when, however, we come to
transportation fuel, public utilities
such as water, light and gas, or to
the distribution of milk, bread, ETC.,
we find group of industries to
which compulsory arbitration must
be applied. The first two groups to
which such strong-arm methods will
be applied are the railroads and coal
mines. First let me say that the
railroads and the mine operators are
themselves largely to blame for pres
emf troubles. Although the owners
or these properties are now behav-
ing themselves, they have not al
ways done so. Most, of the unwise
methods that labor leaders are using
IObSly "CI eAPpAACu Wy IA1O 1clAAl OctNbo
and mine operators of twenty years
ago. Hence these corporations now
are only reaping what they have
sown. Nevertheless, two wrongs do
not make q right. Our nation must
have transportation and fuel at a
fair rate and the operation of its
railroad and coal properties must be
undisturbed by either labor leaders
or stock market operators.
Regarding the railroad situation
To secure a fair rate the interstate
commerce commission has been or.
ganized, and to secure undisturbed
transportation the railroad labor
board has been created. The first
of these-that is, the interstate com
| merce commissioners functionine
very well, and the struggle is now
over the railroad labor board"
AT this point Mr.. Babson was tolG
Of strong feeling on the part Of
both the railroad arrangements anC
| the employees that the railroad labor
| board was not properly made up
Concerning this, Mr.. Babson stated
Experience has shown thai
| boards consisting of three groups
| Zone group representing the public
| do not function well. The grour
representing capital vote in one body
for the corporations; the group rep
resenting labor vote in one body fol
| sie wage workers; this leaves the
| decision to the three men who repre-
sent the public. The problems in
= solved are too great to permit Ieav
| ing the decision to three men chosen
more or less for political reasons
To have the railroad labor board Of
any other such board properly func
ton, five, seven or nine men should
be" selected who represent neithe
the corporations nor, the wage work
ers, but who represent the nation
These men should be paid large sal
aries, given dignified positions, ap
pointed either for life or for Ions
terms, and treated like the suprcm,
court of the United States. The s,
men should gradually build up {
code based upon their rulings seek
| ing the advantage of no one group
but rather the welfare Of the nation
as a whole, which in the end woulC
be for the best interests of both th
owners and the wage workers. TIL
decisions of this board as applyin;
to transportation, public utilities an
similar conflicts, should be absolut
and final.
Railroad owners are now willin;
to accept compulsory arbitration. bu
the labor leaders are not. Som
claim the labor leaders are afrai
of losing their jobs, but I do not be
lieve this to be the reason. The,