Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-17

The National Funders' association,
az its recent meeting in Cincinnati,
adopted series of resolutions, which,
| in part, constitute an important step
in the work of establishing a basis
upon which the relations of employ
ers and employees may be regulated.
The demands of the labor unions have
operated to unsettle relations, and the
struggle for different conditions have
naturally resulted in more or less in
Jury to all commemorative employers,
the workingmen themselves, and, more
significantly, the great mass of the
people of the country and their busi
ness interests.
The most important of the resolu-
tions adopted by the founders are as
follows:
"Employes will be paid by the
hourly rate, by premium system, piece
work or contract, as the employers
may elect, and the workmen so en-
ployed will be required to give a fair
days work for fair days pay.
cit is the privilege of the employe
to leave our employ when he sees fit,
and it is the privilege of the employer
to discharge any workman when he
sees fit.
"The number of apprentices, help
ers and handy men TO be employed
will be determined solely by the re-
quirements of the employer.
cit shall be the right of the foun-
dryman to introduce moulding ma
chimes and appliances of any kind and
to have the same operated by whom
soever he finds to his best advantage
to employ thereon.
Disappearing entirely of strikes
and lockOuts, the members of this as
sociation will not arbitrate any ques-
tion with men on a strike. Neither
will this association countenance a
lockout on any arbitrable question un-
less arbitration has failed.
"The above principles being abso-
lutely essential to the conduct of our
business, they are not subject to arbi-
tratiOn."
Considering at this time only the
one point brought out by the first res
olution, The Sentry recalls the fact
that the Moulders' union composed
of the mechanics in that branch of in
dustry) have heretofore assumed the
right to limit the amount of work that
each member may perform in a day,
and a strong effort is being made to
introduce the system throughout the
country in other trades-an effort that
has met with some success in the larg-
er cities. The result of the adoption
of such limitation, in England, espe-
cially, but, indeed, wherever it has
been tried, has operated injuriously to
the interests Of workingmen and EN-
ployers as well, and the American
people have, in the experience of our
cousins over the water, an object les.
son before them by which they may
wisely profit. It's practical effect has
been to make the efficiency of the poor
est and LATEST and most shiftless of
the standard-those who could do
more and better work have been com
PEELED to reduce their capacity to that
of the slow and lazy man. OF course,
this destroys all incentive of ambi-
tion, and against it the founders de.
clare when they endorse the premium
system. Under the moulders' rule there
ia no chance for a man to rise because
he excels in his work. Could anything
be devised that would more infallibly
bring about the development of per.
mapent "class" of helots who could
never hope to improve their condition :
We should soon have our trades hand
ed down from father to son. The child
coming into the world would be des.