The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28
in THE FIELD OF LABOR
LATEST SCHEME SUGGESTED FOR
SETTLING DIFFICULTIES.
1t Is Proposed To Allow Business Men
Voice I'm Labor Discussions
Other News of Interest.


culties and strikes comes from a man IN
Washington, u. c., who presents pan
that he thinks would be an absolute pre-
ventive of Industrial contests. He sug-
gests that unions make the business men OF
their respective localities members Win
voice, but without vote. He does not mean
that the employers of the members OF the
union shall be taken in. but merchants,
bankers and other business men not directly
interested He says union men are usually
too hot-headed and impulsive for the gen.
eraI good and welfare OF the organization,
but with calm counsel of level-headed bust
ness men this radical phase of the union
would be counteracted, and the result would
be to move along thoughtful and conserva-
tive lines.
This latest proposed solution Of the labor
problem has been taken up by the trades
unions Of the country, bounced upon and
torn to pieces. No one trade unionist has
been found who favors the plan. Unions,
as a rule, conduct much of their business
with the secrecy OF a fraternal or benevo-
lent order. Central labor unions are gen.
orally open to thelpublic and there the vi
tai questions are u ually thrashed out any
way, particularly local differences such as
arise in the building crafts, and the unions
say business men may attend these. In
many instances men not connected with
labor organizations are given permission to
talk in these meetings. But the local union'
1t is contended. is the laboring mans own
affair. and is the same to them as the as
ISOLATION Of employers is to the employing
class. The first thing objected to was that
the employers would not permit laboring
n IN heir ORGANIZATIONS.
other words, would not reciprOcate.
Whatever may be said of the new scheme
interested in the labor problem, and IL not
favored Ii has been Endorsed as plausible
and might be worth trying. The popular
ity Of the plan has caused trades unions TO
take up the matter, and the more it is dis
cussed the harder 1t is fought by them
When the plan is not renounced 1t is ridi-
culed, and In no way has II found favor
with the unions. So bitter has the antag-
onism become that there is little probability
OF II ever being tried.
Eva Mcdonald Valesh was one of the
first TO denounce the new scheme, and In
an article for the Coast Seamen's Journal
she says:
Just to suggest the utter absurdity of the
idea, who ever heard of an organization
OF bankers or merchants entertaining the
idea OF calling the worthy, industrious
workingmen, the skilled artisans of the
community, in order to get the benefit or
their impartial and unprejudiced point of
view when there any difficulty in busi-
ness circles, especially difficulty with en-
ployes? No trouble in seeing the abSurdity
and unrea sonab leness of that is there? The
suggestion Is equally absurd when applied
to the unions. Being human, the unions
make about the average quota of mistakes
permitted to humanity in any walk of life.
but those who have personal knowledge OF
union business and its conduct know that
the up-tO-date trade union is a very bust
nesslike institution and is not In need OF
charitable assistance from the brilliant
brain of banker or merchant. 1t is likely.
however; that the business man. If actually
unprecedented, would learn a great deal
about the labor question by attending a
few union meetings.
1.-The writer who wanted business men
made members of the union was con-
strained TO admit that If an employer
proved so deaf to all appeals of justice and
humanity. as, for instance, the mine OPP
orators. ii might be a good idea for the
men to leave his employment soon as
they could find a better place. And 1t is
upon this sort of mushy philosophy We are
fed by the eminent lights of the daily press
and expected TO gain strength and wisdom.
Such a writer confesses in what he says
his absolute ignorance of the first principles
which make trade union necessary.
different from this was the plant of an
employer whom / met recently. He is the
manager of a business which has many
branches and subdivisions of labor. The
final adjustment of wage scales comes to
him. He declares that his union men al
ways get the best of the argument when
IL comes to discussing the technical details
OF the various subdivisions OF the work,
because they seem to know their subject
better than he any of his foremen hired
TO look after his interests. This man says
he knows enough to handle his business
competitors; but when il comes to his men
they always get the best of the argument
on wages or hours, and, while he is not ex-
actly jubilant about IL, he yet comedies
that the training received in the union must
be valuable when IL enables hundreds of
men to trust their case in the hands of a
few selected representatives with such ex-
cellent results"