Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-23
/. pEFENsr on oReAHIzED LABOR.


Senator Hanna occupies no uncertain
place as a defender Of organized labor.
He has had much experience with It as
an employer Of labor on an extensive
scale, so that what he says in behalf OF
trades unionism is due to long acquaint-
ance and intimate contact with Il The
president Of one of the largest labor or
ganizations In the country recently
spoke of Mr.. Hanna as zone of the
greatest leaders of organized labor we
have and he is generally SO regarded
No one doubts the perfect sincerity of
the Ohio senator In this respect and
therefore his views and his counsel on
the subject nave great weight. Mr..
Hanna is prominently identified with the
National Civic federation, whose pur-
pose is to promote Industrial peace, and
he has said that he has no higher am
bition than to bring about such relations
between capital and labor as will insure
peace between them.
In his speech to the delegates of the
Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers, Mr.. Hanna made a
strong defense of organized labor, taking
issue unqualihedly with the views ex-
pressed by President Parry of the
| American Association of Manufacturers,
which have beer very generally dis
approved. He pronounced untrue the
declarations of MI. Parry in regard to
the spirit and purpose Of organized
labor and said their author evidently
did not understand the question he dis
cussed. Mr.. Hanna said 1t is not true
that there is on the part Of organized
rights, disastrous to industrial policy"
Exact agreement In every business and
industrial transaction is not to be ex-
pected, "but there is always a neutral
ground. a neutral position where those
great forces can meet and at least con-
slider the situation" Mr.. Hanna said
that 1t was within his knowledge that
the men who control the greatest in
dustrial affairs are satisfied with the
efforts being made to establish better
relations between capital and labor and
are ready to cooperate.
The vital and commanding import
ance of this subject is more generally
and strongly realized than ever before.
Very many people are ap~prehendlng a
disastrous conflict between organized
labor and organized capital, with pos.
sibly unorganized labor as the ally OF
capital. That there is such a danger
all intelligent observers must see. Or.
ganized labor is everywhere urging its
demands with more than ordinary vigor
Capital is organizing for resistance and
Offering protection to unorganized labor
Associations for self-defense are beins
formed by workingmen who are opposed
to trades unions. Thus the situation has
a most threatening aspect. Nothing
could be more deplorable for the natior
I than such a conflict as these condition.
make possible. 1t would halt industrial
and commercial progress, produce gen
! eral business depression and most likel,
: financial panic and result in immeasur
J able injury TO the social welfare. It Il
a situation that calls for the most ear
nest consideration Of all thoughtful anc
conservative citizens, to the end that
practicable way may be found to aver
: the threatened danger. Manifestly Their,
: needs to be cultivated more of the spiri
of Cancellation and also a higher sense
on the part of both employers and EN-
ployes, Of what is just and fair.