Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-15
SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
Of America Holding Very Interesting
Session at Boston.

Boston, May 1.-THE general meet
ings of 1903, of the American Social
science Association began here, today,
with a session at Huntington hill,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
at 1890 o'clock. The program covers
morning and evening meetings, today
and tomorrow, and the discussions
scheduled are in the afternoon of so
cial Economics" today, of Health"
and JURISPRUDENCE" tomorrow, and of
Education and Art" Saturday. The
speakers assigned are persons of prom
inence in various branches of profess
sioral scientific activity in the East,
mainly from Boston and vicinity.
The principal speakers, today, were
George H. Anderson and Louis d.
Brandais. leading members of the Suf-
folk county. Mass, bar and Prof. Eu-
gene Wambaugh of the Harvard Law
School.
Mr.. Anderson spoke on "Some Re-
sponsibilities of Capitalistic Organiza-
ton"
The subject of Mr.. Brandais' address
was THE Responsibilities of Labor Or
ganization; Trade Union in Corpora
ton"
Prof. Wambaugh also discussed
TRADE Union in Corporation"
In the discussion which followed the
presentation of the three subjects, John
T. Tobin, president of the Boot and
Shoe Workers Union referred to Prof.
Wambaugh's remarks, saying:
The prospect OF capital and labor or
CARNATIONS combining against the people
-. Iap Tho
principal argument in the Incorporation
of trades unions is that it will give securi-
ty to contracts made with labor unions
and make them liable for damages to the
same extent as the employer. In matters
affecting contracts between labor organ
liza lions and the employers, legal redress
is seldom eXacted from employers for Vio-
latonS of trade agreements. The incor
pOratiOn of trades unions would tend to
widen the breach between capital and Ia
Dor and would not make contracts be
tween them more binding"
Prof. Davis l.. Dewey of the institute
Of Technology. said:
THE proposition to incorporate trades
unions is to attempt to sidctrack the
fore the country 1t is not asked for ly
trade unions. 1t is suggested as method
of imposing financial obligation upon
trades unions and its members. The whole
question IS one of human rights the right
of labor to make bargains collectively.
the right of the non-union laborer; and
the privileges that working men have
during strikes. The struggle of labor is
not for q mere increase of wages, and
therefore we should not inject into it the
money liability in any large degree. The
struggle of labor is Tor an increase OF
President Eliot summarized the question
of the incorporation of the trades unions
in the statement that if they wanted it
there seemed to be no objection. and il
they did not want it there was no good
reason for compelling them to submit to
it. There was, moreover, an objection to
the imposition of money penalty and
this whole talk Of Incorporating trades
unions was fairly attributable to a desire
To get at them and impose Il fine or collect
damages.
1T must be noted" said Mr. Eliot. that
the activities of trades unions involve only
moral, not legal responsibilities. The po-
Sition of the unions is virtually that of
2.0000 600 who Systematically permit moral
and physical violence in the attainment of
their ends in the limitation of the output
than which there is no more corrupting
or degrading influence. tnsklled labor
crS cannot gain their aims in Il labor
struggle without permitting violence, but
this is a moral question and not one of
damage To attempt to get at them vim
dictively. by inducing or compelling in
corporation and making them financially
liable, was not at all the way to settle
f.. j. Stmson brought the discussion to
A close. He said the recent trust litigation
has shown that there is no need of special
Legislation 10 burst lhell' lnefc nave
always been resources in the common law
and are today. TO incorporate the unions
would place them at the mercy, not mere
y Of litigants with a real grievance, but
of a host of others representing extra
ncous interests. perhaps merely acting to
worry and harraSs the union by a series
of actions in court.
The evening session was given to adj
dresses ON the general topic industrial
Peace" the Introductory address being
by Oscar Strauss, president of the assoc
citation. John Graham Brooks, chairman
of the department.. followed, and the con
clair McKelway, editor of the Brooklyn
Eagle. who spoke on Journalism and