Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-06
INVESTIGATING: LABOR
onpt sd
-9id
,ol4TPC 8 alt5inE
Former President1'eof Argen-.
81 ssdh
tine Republic.
COMPANIES, NOT UNIONS
HIS IDEA AS TO THE SOL UTIoN OF
THE PROBLEM.
Then Contracts With Employees Would
Be Binding Because They
Would Be Legal.

Mr.. e. PelHgr1nl, Formerly president OF
the Argentine Republic, is stopping at the
New Willard after a visit to the ST. Louis
exposition and short tour of the west in
search of information concerning the labor
conditions of the United States. He said
to a Star reporter:
| "At the next meeting of the Argentine
| congress it will be necessary to pass some
legislation to govern the labor question in
| the republic, and for the purpose of being
/ thoroughly informed on the subject have
| made quite study of the question in Eng
! land and in Europe, and before returning
| home it. is my desire to complete my fund
of information by a study Of the condi-
lions as they exist in the United States.
I'VE have two declarations of labor in
| Argentina and there already signs of
| clashing between them, and 1t Is for the
purpose of removing all possible chance
of friction that the congress of my country
will endeavor to frame some legislation.
Has Talked With Labor Leaders.
Mr.. Pelligrini said his mission is not in
any sense official, but solely for the p,,r-
pose of gathering data that he might be
able to present his views on the labor ques-
ton as the result of an exhaustive study
| of the subject He has talked the situation
| over with leading labor men in this country
| has paid a visit to the big packing plants
OF the west, where thousands of men are
| employed and has come in personal con-
tact with employers and employed both in
this country and Europe. Onr Friday Mr..
| Pelligrini will have an extended talk on the
subject with Mr.. Samuel Gompers, presi-
| derl of the American Federation OF LABOR.
| and hopes therefrOm to get some valuable
| pointers from one who should know TIE
labor question in all It's many intricate
phases. T:]f sft
Mr.. Pelligrini has some unique ideas as to
the best manner in which the constant ag1-
| tation between capital and labor can be re-
dEced to a minimum, and to The Star re-
| porter outlined views onfthe subject tnat
| appeared far from radical. He believes
| in the combination of labor, as well as IN
the combinations of capital, but he also
l believes that the only solution of the strike
| ard other questions of difference will arise
! fl ON a cooperative arrangement between
| capital and labor. ait yaa
Ff7 His Own Idea.
my idea, briefly" said Mr.. Pelgrin1, lis
the organization of labor companies, in
stead of labor unions. That is to say, let
| every organization of laboring men be an
Incorporated stock company, company
having legal and responsible position in
the business world. There can in this way
be companies formed Of members of the
various trades that are now formed INTO
| unions For instance, there can be a car
penters' company, brick1ayers' company,
a butchers company iand'so on. These com
panies having been formedsand the stock
| apportionef among the members the com
! pany is then on a legal basis. Now the en-
| pleyer being organized, scan enter into an
| agreement or contract with the various
companies in his plant and agree to pay
the company much for the perform
ance of certain work. This makes busl-
ness arrangement and contract is drawn
up. This contract with an incorporated
company can be enforced legally, and is not
| open to the 'whims or alleged grievances or
labor which cause needless strikes and
consequent loss of time and money.
GAS the matter now stands contracts made
with labor are not in the least binding
| this has been clearly demonstrated a num-
Der of times lately-but if, on the other
hand, contracts had been made between one
legally Incorporated company and another
! they would have been binding to the full
| extent of the, law. In other words, be-
lieve in the organization of labor for self
protection but instead of the organization
| of labor unions without legal responsibility
let us have labor companies that will prove
of even greater benefit to the employed, in
my opinion J u
| Question Of Wages.
Mr. Pellegrini said that the question of
wages could be governed by the issuance of
stock in the corporation in the proportion
+ of shares to earning capacity, and that
each body of men in plant now organized
as union could as a company make
| contract WITH cHe employer 1OF the per-
Torrance Of a certain work at a certain
lump sum, and from this the labor
company could make its division weekly or
at such periods as were agreed upon in pro-
tportion to the stock held.
7 Mr.. Pelligrini was very much impressed
with the growth of the United States and
particularly of the national capital since his
last visit here, which was twenty years ago.
II do not think it is stretching a point to
say that Washington is now one of the
most beautiful cities in the world, and if it
continues to- grow as it has in the past it
will certainly head the list he said. Mr..
Pelligrini called on the President yesterday
and expressed himself as greatly impressed