Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1886 — THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD. [ARTICLE]

THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD.

News and Notes of Interest to Manufacturers and Workingmen. Colored Men Joining the Knights of Labor—Printers and Life Insurance, Etc. There are two district assemblies of the Knights of Labor in Norfolk, Va., each with twenty-seven local assemblies. Over half the membership are colored men, and they are very enthusiastic, and carry their religious zeal into the order. Race distinctions are disappearing. Harmony prevails between white and black workmen. Both political parties have Knights on their Congressional tickets. A co-operative baker-shop has been started there. A co-operative store has also been started at Danville, and a co-operative tobacco factory and a soap factory at Richmond. Only a few hundred es the 4,000 men formerly employed in the Norfolk Navy Yard are at work at present. The co-operative movement is being considered in several other localities, but the lack of spare funds is the lion in the way. Some day capitalists will perhaps try the experiment of industrial partnership with labor. The experiment would be worth trying. Less complaint is heard of idle labor.. Demand is wiping up idlers in all crafts except in three or tour directions. Quite a number of mechanics are returning from the West, but employment there is again increasing. For thirty years not the best of feeling hasexisted between the puddlers of Eastern Pennsylvania and the puddlers of the West, because the former could not maintain their organization, could not win any strikes and could not secure an advance in their wages. They have now made another attempt, and will make a hard fight to win. The New York Central Labor Union became unwieldy and has been divided intoten separate branches or sections. Each section is composed of five delegates from each trade organization, and each section sends one delegate to form a Central Labor Union. Steps will now be taken by this central representative body to extend labor organization, “to mold public opinion,” tohold mass meetings, to found a labor press, to adjust differences and to do many other things. The 6,000 tobacco workers of New York, have formed a union. The printers, says the Philadelphia Record, are trying life insurance on this basis: 25 cents each on the death of any printer insured who is from 18 to 25 years of age; 30 cents on those from 30 to 35; 45 cents on those from 35 to 40; and 50 cents on those above 40 years of age. A certificate of good health and good moral character is required from a practicing physician on candidates for membership in the insurance branch. No printer over 50 yeais of age is eligible. The salesmen of New York City are flocking into labor unions. Grocers "bookkeepers, machine clerks, and clothinghouse clerks are well organized and are pushing ahead to get everybody else in. with them. A new district assembly has been organized at Albany, No. 147. A labor picnic was held at St. Paul, at which 20,000 persons were present. The sum realized was SIO,OOO, which will be used to build a halL A State assembly was organized in Georgia, and several ( new districts will be organized. A State assembly has been organized at St. Louis. Two new districts have been organized, and local assemblies springing up all over the State. Downtrodden laborers sometimes take a black view of matters. One writes: “Thereis a crushing business depression every- . nere.” Poor fellow! If he had an $lB job and caught up with his store and rent bills he would see things differently. Some labor reformers in New York want to have a law passed exempting from taxation land up to SI,OOO in value used for homestead purposes; also exempting houses of the same value. Arbitration the Best Way. It has been repeatedly maintained in these columns that difficulties between employers and employed can, in a majority of cases, be averted by a better understanding on each side of the facts on which the other side bases its claim. A full and friendly discussion of the whole question and a disposition on both sides to do justice to the arguments presented, and concede all that is practicable where concession seems to be fairly demanded, will, in three-iourths of the cases arising, lead toan amicable adjustment of what otherwise would develop into a conflict entailing heavy loss on both sides. Where such a conference fails to bring about an agreement there still remains the alternative of arbitration. Whatever objections may be made to arbitration and there are instances where grave difficulties lie in the way of one side or the other —the possible sacrifice can scarcely equal that certain to follow a long and bitter conflict between employer and employed. It has come to be generally acknowledged that in national disputes, where each party feels its cause is just, the rational way is to leave the decision to intelligent, friendly and impartial arbitration. The decision may be unpalatable to the loser, and for a time cause irritation, but the fact of going into arbitration binds both parties to accept the decision in any event, and the irritation gradually subsides. In the end there is satisfaction in the thought that a great sacrifice of life and treasure has been averted, with the possibility of the same final result being attained. What is true of national disputes is equally true bf trade controversies, and especially those between employers and employed. In such controversies one side may think its opponent unreasonable, and the other believe its antagonist unjust. If each maintains that view, refuses to consider the plea of the other side, and determines to maintain its position at all hazards, nothing can come of it but a conflict, ruinous to one side or the other, if long maintained, and a costly victory to the winner. It were far better for both that the disputants had met each other at the beginning in a conciliatory spirit, and agreed to submit questions of irreconcilable difference to unprejudiced arbitration. Plaindealer.