The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-09-03
RESTRICTING LABOR'S EFFI-
CIENCY.


boris Efficiency, the Portland Ore
gonian discusses the relations of labor
and capital in light, and with a
fairness, that makes interesting read
ing, and withal gives food for thought
that will not be amiss Moreover it
comes from leading exponent of
public opinion ina section of the
country that is far from New Eng
land. Because of these various points
of interest the Journal presents it to
its readers in full. Says the Orego-
MAN
1t is the plainest of current phe-
nomena that the popular favor in
which organized labor was basking
year or so ago, is giving place to a
more distrustful mood The most
notable development in the industrial
realm the past six months is the rise
of anti union sentiment among en-
ployers and the preliminary organi-
zatlon of manufacturers, builders,
and others into bodies with more or
less avowed purposes of hostility to
the union principle. This is unfortu-
nate in more ways than one. In the
first place, not war but peace is the
desideratum between capital and Ia
Dor; in the second place, the welfare
of society is promoted, not by the un
rest or distress of our working people,
but by their contentment and COM
fort and, in the third place, it is the
far wiser course to seek to direct labor
organizations into correct theories
and policies than to engage in blind
and unreasoning onslaught to crush
them.
There is no use in mincing words
in this matter, or in seeking to blink
the facts; and the facts are that CAPT
tai has become excusably alarmed at
certain tendencies of labor organiza-
tions, especially in the less skilled
forms of labor. Employers as class
are not unreasoning brutes, any more
than employees are; but while few in
telligent employers will go to the ex-
tIoulc anu uupIOuuduiS louSbus MhlOh
Mr.. Parry, for example, affects, it is
certain that there is sympathy enough
for his views among employers to en-
courage him. His frequent diatribes
against organized labor would cease
soon enough if the employing classes
had not some real grievances to
which he successfully appeals.
Whatever offenses organized labor
has given to capital, not the least
among them is its tendency to dis
courage the efficiency of the laborer
and decrease the earning power of
labor and capitals joint undertake
ings. Many of the unions direct
their efforts at improving the. eff
cheney Of their members and encour-
aging production; and these unions, as
very general rule, enjoy the conf
dence and cooperation of the employ
ers with whom they deal, But the
pernicious European idea that the
chief aim of the union man is to see
how little work he can do and how
Improbable he can make his employ
er's business, is creeping into Amer
lean unions and therein lies, we be-
lieve, the greatest menace today to
the continued pr ogress and happines
of our union labor.
Restriction of production is both
unwise and unmanly. The man
hi1ho.t &c IN col
der on his job is no man at all,
whether he belongs to union or not.
A man is justified in getting all the
wages he can get; but when. he is
accorded what he asks, there is q
duty to be performed on his side and
that duty is in cheerful, whole.
souled service. Then, if he is mar
Of right principles and just impulses,
his interests are his employers inter
ests, and the best work he can do il
none to good. The man that works
hard and ungrudgingly is right, ant
the man who tries to see how little
he can do and how hard he can render
it for his employer to make money il
wrong. He is recreant to trust HI
stands in his own light.
Restriction of output is not only
unmanly, but, as we have said. it il
unwise, For organized labor to fal
into this error and persist in it will
be to raise up against itself grea
and high wall of popular disapprova,
and of industrial difficulty. 1t i
the true end of organized labor t.
make of capital its confidant ant
friend to show the employer that or
ganization of his men is not only bet
ter for them, but better for him
Their welfare will be his care it the,
show disposition to make his welfar
their care. But if not, not. When
ever organized labor in the Unite,
States sits down on its jobs, retardinl
production like brake ON wheel
it not only arrays capital against it a
an implacable enemy, but outrage