The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-18
SEES NO MENACE IN LABOR
SENATOR HANNA SAYS THERE is NO
OCCASION FOR BUSINESS ALARM.
Thinks the Situation Is Improving,
and Declares Unions Are Making
Only Reasonable Demands.
Walter wellman, in Chicago Record


bles will be at an end" said Senator Han
ma this afternoon. just before starting for
his home in Cleveland 1T is true that
they look pretty bad just now, and 1 am
not surprised that the business men of
New York, and of the whole country for
that matter, are a good deal wrought up
over the labor outlook. But if they knew
what 1 know they would feel less uneasi-
ness. The subway men are gradually go
ing back to work. and unless We are dis
appointed by all the indications of to-
day the building trades trouble will all
be adjusted in a few days. The situation
throughout the country is improving, too.
1t is true that there a good many small
strikes, but most of them yield to negotia-
ton or arbitration. These troubles are
regrettable and annoying, of course, but
We should be thankful that strikes in the
great industries and upon the railroads
are not paralyzing commerce. 1 see no
reason why level-headed business men
should get excited or alarmed over what
they call the labor menace"
"And yet, senator, you must admit that
business men are good deal alarmed"
Yes. 1 know they are. have just come
talking about the menace of labor and the
exorbitant demands of unions. To hear
some Of these New York business men talk
you would think labor troubles are new
things and that the country is going to the
dogs Nearly all the men / talked with
held the opinion that the unions were be-
coming more and more reckless; that they
are falling under the control of desperate
and unprincipled men; that the solid, in
dustrious workmen in the unions are forced
to take back seat, while the professional
trouble-maker is at the front But l say
this is not true. / not only think 1t is
not true, but / know it is not true. The
truth is directly to the contrary. Taking
the average of labor unions throughout
the country they are becoming more con-
sentative every day.
REASONABLE DEMANDS.
THE most distinctive and significant ten
dency in organized labor in the United
States to-day" continued Senator Hanna,
lis toward the making of only reasonable
demands. There are exceptions to the rule.
of course. as there are exceptions to all
rules, but we must take the average, not
any isolated cases. The strongest and most
influential men in the labor movement are
constantly saying to thek followers: You
must not strike without good cause You
must not make unreasonable demands; you
must not exact harsh or exorbitant condi-
tons Why, 1 know of cases where nation
al officers have threatened to take the char
tiers away from local unions If they per-
sisted in making demands which seemed un-
just. Here in New York, within the last
men in the national labor movement-John
Mitchell, of the coal miners. and d. j.
Keefe, Of Chicago, chief Of the 'longshore-
men.laid down the law in plain; blunt unit
thought were overstepping the bounds.
1.-THE public does not hear Of these things.
1t only reads of strikes and strikes and de-
mands and demands, and 1t jumps to the
conclusion that labor has lost its head and
is determined to rule or ruin. Why, down
in Wall street there are men who think we
are going to have a revolution In the coun-
the bit in their teeth and are running
amuck; that organized labor Is determined
to go on till 1t is strong enough to aim a
ii to disgorge, and that in the end produc-
tions will be made so costly that industry
will have to shut up shop. All of which is
nonsense.
Business men and the people in general
should remember that there are two sides
to this question. No one need be surprised
If labor asks for higher wages for its share
of the general prosperity The cost OF lfv-
ing has increased, as every head OF fam
lily in the country knows. Prices are high
err These advances hit the workmen more
in proportion than the people with larger
incomes or independent means, and the only
way he can break even. is In receiving an
advance Of his wages. In some cases the
men ask for more than they should, ana
some of their demands are very unreason-
able But take the grand average, and
they are within decent bounds. For ex-
ample, in the building trades here in New
York the wages seem high. but how much
does 1t cost the men to live? Besides, the
people of New York have not stopped build
ing They find 1t profitable to continue
putting. up structures, even II the wages
are high"
TALKS OF CRITICISM.
You are probably aware sir" said /,
THAT a. good many men criticise you for
your activity in trying to settle labor
troubles?'
Indeed I am aware of it," replied Mr.
Hanna with a smile. "They tell me what
they think to my face. Downtown to-day
business men told me had taken the labor
side till the workmen seemed to think all
they had to do was to start up strike and
Mark Hanna would come along and see
that they got what they wanted. l take
these criticisms good-naturedly. In reply
1 say there were labor troubles before I
came on the scene, and that l am afriad
there Will be labor troubles after / have
responsible for all of them can it?
Seriously, my reply to the criticisms
that the Civic Federation Is doing more
harm than good is this: Within the last few
weeks we have settled five strikes in New
York and vicinity, TO say nothing of what
we have donc in other parts of the coun-
try We averted a big strike among the
granite cutters by bringing the two sides
together and having the difficulty threshed
out. We now believe we shall soon be able
to settle the trouble in the building trades
at any rate, we are trying very hard and
we have hopes. If this is not an answer
to the charge we are doing no good, dom
know what All answer is.
81 heard of a man to-day, added Senator
Hanna, laughingly, who said that Mark
Hanna was at one time his choice for Pres
ident, but since he had gone so deep into
this labor business Hannas goose was
told my friend to tell this man had never
been a candidate for the presidency and
never would be; that what / had tried to
do in the way of bringing about better re-
lations between capital and labor was the
result of conviction, and had no politics, no
demagogy. no self-seeking in it. and that as
long as l thought l could be of any value
to the cause / proposed to continue my
modest efforts in spite of all criticisms"
The writer is informed by a most excellent
authority that large cause OF the trouble
in the building trades in New York is the
presence of a gang Of "grafters'' in the Ia
Dor unions Contractors have found the
only way in which they can get along is TO
carry certain officers of the local unions
on the pay roll--or see that comfortable
"wads'' are slipped into their hands at least
once a month. So great had this scandal
become that a good many contractors re-
belled, and when they stopped paying graft
they found strikes on their hands 1 am
further informed that John Mitchell and d.
j. Keefe have been placed in possession OF
the facts by members OF the organization