Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-10

| 49, uAoAlIllOuS decision OF the
| Judges, Cony High affirmative team
was vas declared the winner in the de-
pate with Waterville High at AS
| sembly hall last evening. Elizabeth
onorey OF the Cony team was dcclar-
go the individual winner. by a two
10 ono decision. F. Elliot Larrabee
or the Waterville high team receiv-
ing the other vote.
me question under discussion was,
Resolved. That the Federal Gov
eminent should provide for the COM
pulsory arbitration Of disputes be-
tween labor and capital in the rail-
road and coal mining industries.
(Constitutionality waived)
MISS Elizabeth Shorey. the first
speaker for the affirmative in a logi-
cal, rorceful speech developed a clear
cut series of arguments after care
fully defining the limits of the debate
to which the affirmative would con-
f1ne themselves. She named four
methods Of settling labor disputes,
namely mediation, Cancellation, VOL
Suntary arbitration and compulsory
arbitration and showed by a process
OF elimination that only the latter
had the element of success. She
then proved by references that COM
pulsory arbitration had actually sue
ceeded wherever tried, in fact that
such changes in the law as had been
made had only been those tending
to make the law more drastic.
Miss Idora b. Beatty. the first
negative speaker was of a different
type. She was aggressive and radical
at times bringing arguments to show
that compulsory arbitration was not
wanted by the public. and that there
was practically no demand for it. She
maintained that it would work harm
to both capital and labor and would
effectively take away the only
weapon that labor possesses. the
strike. This would mean the loss
Of freedom for which America has
always stood and would merely
fortify tho position of capital. 1t
would bring slavery in the place of
power and take away every right
of labor. Nine men would be called
upon to settle such disputes and
there are no nine living capable of
bearing the burden and responsible
tiles of such decisions. Moreover the
awards of such a court would be en-
forceable against capital but not
against labor.
Ernest G. Church of the affirmative
stated that the idea was sound in
practice. He cited cases in Norway.
Australia and in the state of Kansas
where it was working we'll. AS proof
OF the fact that we were now living
with certain compulsory laws he
mentioned the compulsory attend
ance at school and the compulsory
arbitration of disputes between in
dividuals as worked out in our sys-
tenn Of courts. He also brought out
that the incorporation Of labor I'M
ions would assist in the enforcement
Of the awards as. in case of the fail
ure Of labor to live up to the decis-
ion of the board. the funds of the
union might be seized.
+. Elliott Larrabee the concluding
speaker. told of an instance in New
Zealand where it had been declared
impracticable and as separating CAPT.
tai and labor instead of bringing them
together. lie said that Strikes could
not he prohibited by law as the men
Of this country cannot be compelled
to Involuntary servitude. In place of
compulsory arbitration he advocated
Il plan. whereby labor would have a
representative on the board Of mana
gers of the various industries and
would also invest their savings in the
industry thereby attaining an inter-
est and bringing capital and labor
together. He cited instances where
this had been done with good re-
suits.
In rebuttal Miss Beatty declared
that the court could handle cases
from all parts of the United States.
without knowledge Of sectional
conditions wonld be supernatural and
1ynn Il \
formed an opinion on momentous
questions such as this would not be
big enough to handle the job.
Elizabeth Shorey came back strong
on the rebuttal driving home the
points that won the debate at this
time. She said that New Zealand
had not had compulsory arbitration
as stated by one of the speakers of
the negative and brought proof to
Gear on this point. Then too the SUI
prcme court has issued orders that
strikes must not be held in such in
ciustries as the railroads and coal
mines, which are public servants and
fill an indispensable public need.
I.arrabee in rebuttal said that 1t
lad not been found to work in Aus
tralia. as stated by the affirmat tive.
I1c dlSO luz PS'h. e'.'
COMPULSORY arbitration would be
costly and the enforcement of he
rulings Of the court would also cost
large sums. He asked what would be
done to run the railroads or mines
in the event that the workers should
not abide by the rulings OF the board
and should be imprisoned, thus put
ting two million men out of the in
dustry.
Ernest Church OF the Affirmative
was the last speaker on the rebuff
tai. He argued that while the mega
tive has said that compulsory arhi-
tration would not suit capital or Ia
Dor either. the facts showed that
fully 20 per cent of the votes cast re-
Gently in Kansas We're for candidates
who advocated this form Of settle
ment of disputes.
After the decision Of the Judges
had been made known, Supt. of
Schools Fred W. Burrill announced
that the cup which had been won
last year by Cony will remain in
their permanent possession as it has
been decided by the members of this
series Of debates to award a cup to
the winners each year.
AS Cony also won at Gardiner.
Friday night, whore they took the
negative side of the same question.
the Cony teams have earned the
right to enter the finals In the Bates
League which are to be held at Lew
iston. Monday evening. May ..