asis of statute law, the range of their usefulness might be
greatly increased. They might even sustain a method for enforcing in the
courts the collection of wages, where the single wage-earner often accepts
the half loaf in a compromise rather than meet the expense and loss of
time involved in a law suit. Certainly the establishment of legal
relations between the trades' union and the state would give to it a
character and stability most likely to promote all interests.

_Federations of labor._--The so-called federations of labor, in which
practically the only bond of union between individuals is the fact that
all are wage-earners, have so far worked out but a small part of the
problem involved in their existence. They have the advantage of uniting
large numbers and a variety of interests; but they have the disadvantage
of subordinating all other interests to the supposed conflict between
employers and employed. Their tendency is almost certain toward lowering
standards of efficiency, and attempting by class legislation to get the
advantage of mere numbers.

It is almost impossible that the organization shall be kept out of the
field of bargains in politics and contrivance for special legislation,
demoralizing to the whole country. Too often the votes of members are made
a bribe for securing certain favors. In the nature of the case, they
sustain a body of officers whose chief business is in danger of becoming
that of either political agitators or political bosses. The machinery of
organization is liable to reduce the independence of individuals. The
organization itself is liable to demand a personal subordination almost
equivalent to military rule, and the badge of the society may mark a man
as under direction of authority. Even in questions where the majority
rule, the force of the federation requires the caucus principle of
absolute adherence, even though the majority represents the weakest and
least intelligent part of the organization. The demoralizing effect of
such methods, including wholesale trading of opinions, is liable to debase
citizenship, and so to diminish the individual self-respect, which is the
highest possible protection for laborers.

_Courts of arbitration._--Arbitration between employers and employed, in
cases of serious misunderstanding, has long been advocated as a wise means
of settling differences. The obstacles to its general, voluntary adoption
are considerable. Employers object because it