| Show I NO MORE STRIKESe Illinois Coal Operators Novel Means of Solving Labor I ProblemHerman Justi Special Commissioner Describes De-scribes Favorable Results Developed by the New System Chicago Oct HThe situation now existing in Pennsylvania Is similar to many which we have confronted In I Illinois It simply precipitates the question of finding some means of settlement between be-tween employer and employed without having recourse to strikes I Why cannot the same methods as I have been successfully applied In the bituminous coal fields be applied In the anthracite regions where condlllons are very similar The Illinois Coal Operators association associa-tion tired of the continual recurrence of labor disputes determined to find a I remedy which would reduce them to a minimum The result of their decision was the appointment of myself as their commissioner commis-sioner to whom was left the delicate and sometimes difllcult task of adjudicating adjudi-cating on all matters coming up In dispute dis-pute between themselves and their men I was selected and vested with great responsibility because of my record for Impartiality and fairness Since assuming the duties of my Position po-sition everything has gone to prove that the Idea of the Illinois coal operators was both practical nnd efficient From my ofllce all claims and complaints com-plaints are investigated In a cool and equitable manner Of the fifty or more cases that have been submitted to me all have been settled upon their merits I solely and I believe with satisfaction to all parties In Interest and it Is worthy of note that while nearly all of these troubles seemed serious to the contestants they were as a rule trivial in their origin Harsh or cruel language lan-guage on the part of an employer or his representative and unreasonable and unwarranted demands or brutal threats on the part of the employee seemed to be at the root of nearly every dlITerehco or dispute Mutual admissions admis-sions or concessions or the disproving of these charges soon opened the way i to reconciliation to a degree at least where the existing differences could bo calmly considered Another cause of trouble has been the senseless feeling of hostility between the employer and the representatives or officials of labor unions The employers I too often assumed that these union men were undertaking to manage their business busi-ness for them and the manner In which i these officials often went about their I duties no doubt In many instances gave strong ground for this belief The observance of the Christian rule of speech and the exercise of wise tact I I have easily obviated friction but thu absence of these not only made it Impossible I Im-possible to close the breach but opened the way for discovering almost countless count-less differences I Some other Industries have undertaken underta-ken the settlement of differences and disputes by the same plan we are pursuing pur-suing and the greater the number that may follow this example the sooner shall we witness comparative peace and tranquillity In the industrial world Unless our labor troubles are thus treated we shall find that the employers employ-ers of labor In America will be driven to the necessity of organizing an American Amer-ican federation of industries an extreme ex-treme to which there should be no need of going Kindness and common sense properly applied where there are sore I spots will be found ample and ade quate treatment for the speedy cure of nearly every one of them I want to make clear the fact that the commission has found the miners officials prompt courteous and fair in the consideration of every question brought before them and the miners I with whom we have come in contact 1 have also yielded to our appeals where right and reason seemed to be on our side Employers on the other hand have accepted with proper grace and in a commendable spirit the adverse I decision of their commissioner This plan of settling differences has this advantage = No one Is humiliated by the adjustment In fact after all I the points in dispute were clearly spread out before the contending sides the ones In error usually admitted It before a decision was rendered I have I studied the different plans of settling disputes between employer and employee em-ployee and It seems to me r there Is only r one right way conciliation and until differences arc settled right they aro not settled at all Some of the very few fundamental questions that all employers of labor i should first nettle among themselves after which the concurrenco of labor leaders should be Invoked arc briefly these First That sympathetic strikes aro 1 opposed to the fundamental principles of organized labor and that If permitted permit-ted contracts between organized labor and employers are worthless Ills proper to say In this connection that some If not many or all of the foremost fore-most labor lenders take this view but the rank and file of laborers being still of the opinion that sympathetic strikes are Justifiable it should bo plain that some great effort to act them right is due the country from labor leaders SecondThat labor unions should not receive Into their organizations men holding confidential relatlonn with their employers or men holding positions In which the duty of employing or dismissing dis-missing help devolves upon them All such employees should be recognized as agents of employers Third That all laborers shall remain at work pending the Investigation of differences between employer and employee em-ployee Fourth That no llmltatlo shall bo I fixed on the amount of work a man I shall do or the amount on money ho shall earn In a legal working day tel such limitation certainly entails a greater hardship upon the capable and frugal laborer more so In fact than upon the employer of labor and further fur-ther because such limitation Is a rank discrimination In favor of slothful or indifferent workmen FIfthThat there shall be no restriction restric-tion In the use of laborsaving machinery machin-ery and tools and that In all such Industries where like work Is done both by machinery and by hand an equitable equita-ble differential Is to be established and duly recognized SixthThat there shall be no Interference Inter-ference with workingmen during working work-Ing hours and that In all cases of labor troubles the number of men necessary to protect the property against needless deterioration shall remain at work HERMAN JrSTI Commissioner Illinois Coal Association |
