650 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



not already sufficiently high to cover the difference in the cost of 

 labor, could easily be made so. 



If the people of a State see fit to establish such a Board of 

 Labor or Arbitration for the settlement of labor disputes, it is no 

 more an infringement of their personal liberty than is the estab- 

 lishment of courts of law for the settlement of legal disputes. 

 In both cases the restraint is self-imposed, and may be thrown off 

 at will by disestablishment. The object of both tribunals is the 

 same, namely, that of settling disputes by the judgment of a body 

 of disinterested and fair-minded persons, instead of leaving the 

 stronger to overcome the weaker by force, or of allowing the cun- 

 ning to victimize the innocent or simple. The experience of cent- 

 uries has proved the practical utility of courts so composed in 

 settling legal disputes, and every civilized nation has adopted the 

 principle in one form or another. But with respect to labor dis- 

 putes we are still in a state of barbarism, in which force, fraud, 

 and cunning are always triumphant, and the matter is settled 

 without regard to the merits of the case. Would any one advo- 

 cate a return to the personal liberty of early days, when barons 

 held their sway and settled disputes by the sword ? Yet strikes 

 and lockouts are industrial warfare, and are as barbarous methods 

 of settling labor disputes as the baron's sword was of settling 

 legal disputes. 



At present the public does not realize that it has a vital inter- 

 est in settling labor disputes peaceably, and in providing some 

 competent tribunal for that purpose. The public is good-natured 

 and easy-going, but it will not require many more large strikes 

 and lockouts to arouse its ire. Take the case of a strike or lock- 

 out on a railroad or street-car company. These are gwcm-public 

 corporations, created by the State for the convenience of the 

 public. They are subject to the control of the public; but if 

 a strike or lockout arises, the public may be inconvenienced 

 for days, weeks, or months, simply because there is no tribunal 

 with power to settle the dispute. As the public has the power 

 to remedy this evil, it has only itself to blame for its continued 

 existence. 



Nor is the public's interest in settling labor disputes confined 

 to railroading, but also extends to manufacturing, mining, and 

 other businesses. The public is injuriously affected by any 

 act which seriously interferes with the production or distribu- 

 tion of wealth. Strikes and lockouts undoubtedly not only in- 

 terfere with the production and distribution of wealth, but 

 they also endanger the public peace and security of life and 

 property. 



The strong argument of employers is that their business is a 

 matter of private concern, and that therefore they have the right 



