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about two months, the Crispin organization was forced to the wall and it never recovered.

The last attempt to establish a joint board of arbitration in Lynn was made in the fall of 1885, when a movement in the interest of higher wages was instituted under the direction of District Assembly No. 77, Knights of Labor, and was pushed with such vigor as to disconcert the manufacturers and compel them to seek some way by which they could fix a standard of wages that would be fair to all. They realized that an open conflict with the labor unions meant nothing short of a total loss of the season's trade, and that was a thing which they wished to avoid. Besides this, they had grown weary of the general state of uncertainty which seemed to prevail throughout the city, and were anxious to establish some sort of a system whereby they could have some assurance of being able to conduct their business without inter ruption. The result of this feeling was soon made manifest by one of the leading manufacturers, who suggested that the whole matter should be left to a joint committee consisting of manufacturers and delegates from the district assembly. This idea was approved by the labor leaders, and at the next meeting of the assembly a committee of seven was appointed to form a board of arbitration in conjunction with the manufacturers.

In the meantime the manufacturers had organized an association and appointed a committee to represent them on the board.

After several preliminary conferences the joint board was organized, and the following rules and regulations were adopted:

RULES AND REGULATIONS TO GOVERN THE BOARD OF ARBITRATION OF THE SHOE AND LEATHER ASSOCIATION AND KNIGHTS OF LABOR OF LYNN.

RULE 1. The joint board of arbitration shall consist of seven members from each organization, who shall serve for one year, or until their successors shall be appointed or clected. Five members from each side shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote shall be final in all cases, except as hereinafter provided.

Comment.-When by sides there is a difference of opinion, the same number of persons only on each side shall cast a vote. But when the vote is not by sides, all at the meeting may vote, and the majority decides the question.

RULE 2. In case of a tie vote, each side shall select a disinterested person, and these two shall select a third person, and their decision shall be final.

RULE 3. All grievances arising in a factory of the Shoe and Leather Association, in a department covered by the Knights of Labor, shall hereafter be adjusted by the joint board, after first being approved by their respective executive boards.

RULE 4. Pending the discussion and decision of any difference or dispute there shall be no lockout, strike, stoppage, or cessation of work by either employer or employee. All matters referred to the joint board must be settled within fifteen days after presentation; if not, it must be settled as provided for in Rule 2.

RULE 5. No member of the Shoe and Leather Association shall discharge any employee because he or she is a member of the Knights of Labor. Neither shall he employ any person who is objectionable to the Knights of Labor, after he has been officially notified by the joint board of arbitration.

Comment. The intent of this rule is not to compel any person to become a member of the Knights of Labor.

RULE 6. No employee shall be allowed to work more than ten hours a day, and on Saturday nine hours, in any department covered by the Knights of Labor; except in extreme cases, an employer may employ help not more than three hours extra per day, for five days in any one month, without permission from the joint board of arbitration.

RULE 7. No member of the Knights of Labor shall be required to pay for rent, heat, light, or findings, unless a special consideration be paid therefor.

RULE 8. No contract shall be given in any department covered by the Knights of Labor, unless the person taking said contract shall pay the standard prices of such work.

RULE 9. All employees to be paid weekly.

RULE 10. The joint board of arbitration shall meet within two days after being notified by the executive board of either organization at such time and place as may hereafter be agreed upon. No complaint shall be considered, unless stated in writing and the causes of the complaint are specified and signed by the complainants.

RULE 11. There shall be no interference with the employment of persons by the week (except as provided for in Rule 5) if the wages paid are satisfactory to the joint board of arbitration. But in a department working under a piece price, the system shall not be changed without consent of the joint board of arbitration; but in all cases the amount paid by the week must be equivalent to the piece price for the same work.

These rules shall govern the joint board of arbitration until June 1, 1886.

During the first three months the board was in session almost every day, sometimes devoting ten hours per day to the work in hand. At the end of that time they had succeeded in grading the work and making price lists for several departments, which were to continue in force until October 1, 1886.

It is worthy of note that the price established in the upper-cutting department has been maintained to the present day. During the last three months of the period the prices in most of the other departments were agreed upon by subcommittees and indorsed by the board, but before they became operative the workmen, who had been gradually growing dissatisfied, protested against the continuance of the board. They were striving for trade autonomy, and threatened to withdraw from the Knights of Labor if their wishes were not complied with. The manufacturers earnestly protested against such a course, but without effect. The district assembly finally acceded to the demands of the shoe operatives, and withdrew their delegates from the joint board. This virtually put an end to the board, and defeated one of the most successful attempts at arbitration that has ever been made in Lynn.

As regards the work which was accomplished by this board, the testimony of those who are familiar with its history all goes to show that the shoe operatives of Lynn never entertained any adequate conception of the magnitude of the work or the difficult task that the members had before them. Two of the Knights of Labor delegates to the board were seen and were found to be practically of one opinion. They

spoke in the highest terms of the manufacturers and their manifest intention to establish and maintain a peaceable method of adjustment. They stated also that if the price lists which had been made out had become operative fully 60 per cent of the employees throughout the city would have received an increase in wages, and not over 5 per cent would have been reduced. They further stated that the abolition of the joint board was brought about by the efforts of the shoe operatives' delegates who were constantly opposing the work of the board in the meetings of the district assembly.

On the other hand, the manufacturers stated that when the board was established they looked forward to a long period of peace and prosperity in the industry. They deplored the discontinuance of the board at the time it occurred, as they believed that it was the only available method for handling such grievances as were constantly arising in the factories. They feel, however, that their efforts were not altogether fruitless, as the principle of fairness, which had taken root during the proceedings of the board, has always been manifest in subsequent dealings with the workmen, and enabled them to come together and discuss their differences with more intelligence and a greater degree of satisfaction than had ever been attained under previous conditions.

Simultaneously with the formation of the joint board in Lynn in 1885, the manufacturers of Brockton, Mass., issued a manifesto and price list to the workmen in the lasting department, allowing them four days in which to consider and adopt the same. A mass meeting was held, and after discussing the proposition of the manufacturers it was finally decided to appoint a committee representing all the labor organizations in the city to wait upon the manufacturers' executive committee for the purpose of inducing them to leave the matter of prices to a joint board of arbitration. This proposition was declined and a few days later all the factories operated by members of the manufacturers' association were closed and 5,700 operatives were thrown out of employment.

After three weeks' suspense, the manufacturers finally consented to meet a committee from the unions with a view to arranging a basis of settlement. Several days were spent in discussing details, and on December 5 an agreement providing for the establishment of a joint board of arbitration with rules and regulations to govern its proceedings was adopted and signed by both sides. The board consisted of six members from each side, and one of the rules provided that in case of a tie vote each side should select a disinterested person, and these two should select a third; the decision of the three to be final. The board. immediately went to work upon the lasters' price list, but as they could not agree the matter was referred according to the foregoing rule. A decision was rendered on December 22, and after five weeks' idleness the factories were again opened and the operatives returned to work. On February 8, 1886, the board made out a price list for the finishing

department, which was to continue in force until January 1, 1887. This virtually completed their work, and after settling up a few minor grievances the board gradually went out of existence. The price lists established by the board were adopted by all concerned and have served as a basis for subsequent changes.

A history of the attempts which have been made toward establishing peaceable methods for adjusting trade disputes in Haverhill, Mass., would in many respects be merely a repetition of what has already been said in connection with the shoe industry of Lynn. The employees have had their labor unions with agents to represent them; they have endeavored to regulate wages and have met with reverses; they have lived to realize the folly of strikes under prevailing conditions, and have finally come out openly and fought for industrial peace. They have struggled for years under varying and at times disheartening conditions, shifting from one form of labor union to another, and gaining little, if anything, except such wisdom as usually comes from sad experience.

Previous to 1892 there had been no concerted movement on either side toward establishing a permanent system for settling trade disputes. The agent system had been in force for a number of years, but as this was confined mostly to the lasters, the remainder of the operatives were left to struggle along as best they could.

As might be expected under such circumstances, their relations with the employers were not altogether harmonious. In the dull season the manufacturers would reduce wages and when business was brisk the workmen would get together and demand a restoration or an increase. After a while the operatives became strong enough to employ an agent to look after their interests and for a time matters ran along without much friction. Then they began to neglect their organization, and the manufacturers, who were always kept informed of what was going on, were not slow in resorting to the old method. Wages were reduced here and there and always in the parts that were the least able to resist.

With a full knowledge of these facts, and prompted by the desire to bring about more favorable conditions, the Central Labor Union of Haverhill, in the spring of 1892, sent a communication to the local ministers inviting them to deliver a sermon on some phase of the labor question. The invitation was accepted and on the following Sunday about 300 members of the labor organizations attended services at the First Baptist Church and listened to a sermon by the Rev. W. W. Everts on the peaceful settlement of labor troubles by arbitration. The workmen were more than pleased with the manner in which the subject was treated and expressed the hope that the principles enunciated by the minister would meet with the approval of the manufacturers.

Now that the subject of arbitration had been brought to the front, several of the local ministers took an interest in the matter and

willingly set to work to see what could be done toward bringing the manufacturers and workmen together. After considerable effort they finally induced the manufacturers to form an association. Without wasting any time the association immediately proceeded to act, and on October 27, 1892, passed a resolution requesting the president to notify the Central Labor Union that they had organized and were ready to proceed with the formation of a joint board of conciliation and arbitration. This communication met with the hearty approval of the labor organizations, and they immediately appointed a committee to confer with the manufacturers.

After several conferences a plan of action was decided upon and the following constitution and by-laws adopted:

AGREEMENT OF 1892 BETWEEN THE SHOE MANUFACTURERS AND SHOE WORKERS OF HAVERHILL.

We, the undersigned, shoe manufacturers and shoe workers of Haverhill, that we may maintain harmonious relations with one another, and may unite in the adoption of such measures as shall tend to improve the condition of the business and promote the general welfare of all employed in it, do hereby form an organization and adopt the following constitution for our government:

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.

ARTICLE I.-Name.

This body shall be known as the Board of Conciliation of the Shoe Trade in Haverhill.

ARTICLE II.-Object.

Its object shall be to conciliate employers and employed in all difficulties that may be by them referred to this board.

ARTICLE III.-Membership.

This board shall be composed of two delegates from each affiliated labor organization, and a number of delegates from the manufacturers' organization, equal to the sum of those from the several labor organizations.

ARTICLE IV.-Delegates, terms, and how elected.

SECTION 1. Term of office of all such delegates shall be one year, beginning on December 1, and such delegates shall be elected during the month preceding the beginning of the term.

SEC. 2. Delegates shall be elected in any manner approved by their respective constituents.

ARTICLE V.-Officers.

SECTION 1. The officers shall consist of a president, vice-president, and two secretaries. These officers shall constitute the standing or executive committee of the board.

SEC. 2. Two or more candidates for president shall be nominated by the representatives of the manufacturers, and the one of these candidates receiving a majority of all votes cast shall be declared elected.

Two or more candidates for vice-president shall be nominated by the representatives of the labor organizations and elected in the same manner as the president. Each side shall nominate two or more candidates for secretary, from which one