The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-14

and have the matter investigated. But
suppose lac Is "A n ember of "A union that has
entered into "A contract with us and takes
a notion TO cult our employ all OF "A sud
den. Can we have any recourse! Wen.
not by any method yet discovered. How
much better IL would he il labor unions
were incorporated and had a working capt.
tai 10 give them standing. Then a factory
owner could go 10 such a union and con-
tract for the labor, say of one hundred men
for a definite period and have perfect con-
hdence that during the time that contract
Is in force he Will have that much LABOR at
"A fixed wage scale
Another leading manufacturer was told
OF the foregoing suggestions and asked
what he thought Of them. II would go a
little further he said, and have a ma
tlonal examiner appointed. just like a ma
tional bank examiner, whose duties would
be TO go around and make regular inspec-
lions OF all corporations employing labor,
yes. and corporations furnishing labor, ana
report conditions as they actually exist IN
each such corpora ton. / do not believe
there is a corporation in the country that
would object 10 such a system.
State Labor COMMISSIONS Mccormack
vas asked the question. Are contracts
made between workingmen in unions and
employers enforcible under the law?"
They are not" he replied. Labor or
Canizations are only and
nave no legal existence. These contracts
are simply based upon the honor of the
contracting parties. and they are rarely
passes that the Indiana Labor Commission
does not draw w one or more contracts
between employers and organized working
men, and the beneficial effects OF this sys-
TEN are discernible every day This
method OF adjustment ought TO be en-
outraged
BENEFIT OF UNIONISM.
Mr.. Mccormack talked interestingly OF
trades unionism. Organized labor" he
said, sis growing more and more conserva-
tive every day. Statistics of this office
show that i'm this State the stronger trades
unionism grows the fewer strikes we have
between capital and labor. AS an evidence
of the truth of this there has not been a
noteworthy strike in Indiana FOR two years,
with the exception OF the Amslgamated
Steel Workers strike and the late strike
Of the machinists.
Under the system now prevailing en-
ployers and employees meet. agree upon
wages and other working conditions, sign
articles of agreement and thus settle their
controversies i'm an intelligent. business-Iike
way. BY this method labor is assured Of
steady employment at satisfactory wages
and the employers conduct their business
without rear or interruption by labor dis
turbances.
THE Indiana Labor Commission pays lit
tie attention to the stronger organized
bodies of workingmen. because they have
their own Observation-Disclosures for settling diff
fculties when they arise. Our dealings
are largely with unOrganiZed and newly
organized workmen. who have little knowi-
edge Of the objects and aims of organized
labor.
Organized labor is both educational and
disciplinary. As an illustration take the
United Mine Workers of Indiana and COM
pare the condition of that craft to-day,
powerfully organized as il is. with it's con-
ditiOn five years ago, when the men had no
organization. In the coal industry In
diana at that time was the scene of al
most constant turmoil between miners and
operators: But now mark the difference.
That craft has one of the best organiza-
tons in America, with an incompatible
management both I'm its national and state
control. Each January "A delegate conven-
ton OF miners and operators meets, usually
at Terre Haute. and the wage scale and
other working conditions are agreed upon.
as a result OF which. unless some unusual
local condition arises i'm a particular min
ing locality. no labor trouble will be heard
of throughout the entire mining district
OF the State. What is said of the miners
may also be said of other thoroughly or
ganized crafts"