The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-07
Observation-Disclosures

men. and we have disbursed more THAI
a million and a half gold dollars for labor
since the day we defeated the senSciesS
mo wicked strike"
EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
What, in a nutshell, are the rules
which should govern In the relations OF
employers ard employees I asked.
I'm a nutshell replied General Otis
they are faithfulness. fidelity and devo-
ton to duty on the one hand; good Will,
fair wages, reasonable hours and good
treatment on the other hand, and ran
ference by outside persons or organlza-
tons not properly concerned In the al
fairs of either workman OF employer;
II am a worker myself continued
of my fellows to work and to make indie
pendent contracts with their employers.
l should like to see every worthy man
and woman in the land. who wishes 10
regular. steady work. High wages Tor
short and irregular periods give less
money in the course of a year than con-
t!nuous employment at a more moderate
yet fair rate OF pay. l believe that un-
der right and FREQ conditions in the labor
market it is possible for every competent
workman in the country to have work for
800 days in the year and be paid accord
What do you mean by right cond:-
tions?" 1 asked.
tween the employer and his men are mu-
tually satisfactory. Such relations should
prevail whether the labor is skilled or I'M
skilled. organized or unorganized. l mean
wages; that his family should be we'll
nourished. well clothed and we'll housed,
and at the same time have enough for
health. education and recreation. Such
conditions are for the welfare and con-
tentment OF the people and a boon to
the State"
THE DAYS WORK.
How about the length Of the working
day." I asked.
There should be no contention about
that" said General Otis. IF the hour is
made the unit and basis OF labor, the
problem would be practically solved. Then
the number of hours to constitute a work.
ing DAY becomes n secondary considera-
ton, and can be adjusted without trouble.
Such matters can be arranged by the par
ties immediately concerned on a flexible
basis, to suit the requirements of the
business and with advantage to all con-
cerned.
There Is one thing that is very impor-
tant,' General Otis went on; 1T is more
important IN many respects than wages
OF hours. Ihis Is that The owner has the
tight to control his establishment and the
right to regulate the force and the out
put. He must be able to make a fair
pront on ms product, whatever it Is, be-
sues earning the annual interest on the
cost OF the plant, an item never to be left
out of the account. Unless he is given a
Tree hand to accomplish these things he
cannot do u safe and sound or GROWN.
business. lie canno thrive himself OF
enable his people TO thrive for long. He
Ecannot furnish the. greatest need of la
bDf. which IS certainty and s~teadrness OF
employment, fair wages and repose."
Have you ever been d laboring man,
General?"
Most emphatically So" replied General
0tis, II know what it is to work and SC
do all my business associates. l began
Life as a farmer boy. learned to read in
J a log schoolhOuse and grew up among
people with whom industry, ~frugality and
laborinS man still. For the past twenty
years. during which l have been building
up the Los Angeles Times, l have worked
more hours daily than most of the men
In my employ. l have never kept a record
OF my. hours nor charged for overtime.
though l have often put in from twelve
to sixteen hours per DAY. week in and
week out. This. however. is merely n per-
sonal matter and of little Importance in
connection with the question:"
GREAT COMBINATIONS.
How will the great Industrial combina-
lions affect labor matters?" l asked.
II see no reason why they should not be
for the good of labor. provided the combi-
nations are kept within the plain limita-
tons of the law according to the wise
policy of President Roosevelt. Great com
binations can do great things. They can
handle industrial problems which would
be beyond single individuals or small CAPT
t%alists,. Great undertakings require great
enormous capital. They call for many
workmen and create opportunities for
wages. The real test is in the question as
NJ yrnl yEfnI (llfGiHa nf this fhav ohov,1d
not be restricted. They should not be
crushed merely because they are big any
more than small operators and operations
should be crushed because they are small.
All are. alike entitled to the protection of
the law. Such combinations require some
restraint. but that restraint should be the
restraint OF the law and not Of public
clamor."
What do you think of the compromise
and arbitration policy of the Civic Fed
Grafton, General? l mean the policy advo-
Gated by Mark Hanna, Samuel Gompers
and others?'
Il think there is more or less politics in
It," replied General Otis. 1T is more
his people, ignoring the fact tina the law
Is ample to do Justice to all. are trying to
substitute a continuance of their own for
the settlement of labor controversies The
| same amount of effort put forth in enfor-
cling the Constitution and the laws would
| nave accomplished more good. The basic,
though uneXpressed, purpose. seems to be
to cajole or force the employer to give
way merely in order to stop the row. No
such plan of settlement can be perfna-
| nent, Tor it is not right. The side to give
way in such controversies Is the side,
whichever it may be, that has been proved
to be in the wrong"
UNCLE SAM AND LABOR.
How about the labor unions and the
| United States Government"
There should be no labor unions amous
| civil government employees said General
| Otis. you might as well draft them upon