Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-23
TO ORGANIZE
Employers Are Urged TO
Combine Forces.
4 Great Federation to Pro-
mote Industrial Peace.
Plan Proposed at Meeting Of Nat.
Assn. Of Manufacturers.

Boston, March 22-Plans for a great
federation of all the employing inter
ests OF the United States. built on the
lines of the American Federation o.
Labor, were advanced IN Boston to-d2y
after speech by James w. Van
Cleave OF st. Louis, president of tile
National Association of Manufacturers.
MIR. Van Cleavc startled 500 delegates
to the annual convention of the Nation
al Metal Trades Association by de-
claring capital everywhere must recog-
niZe labor's right 10 organize, this re-
cognition being necessary before IN
dustrial America can hope to reach It's
fullest growth.
The interests lir. Van Cleave Woull
consolidate for the advancement OF IN
dCstrial peace and commercial S'ipre!l-
acy represents Il capitalization OF
more thar $4,000, 900. More than a
billion dollars of this is represented in
NJ Van Clcave's organization, u
which he would weld the National
Metal Trades, the National Typothetae.
the National Founders, the National
Wholesale Merchant Tailors' AsSocia-
ton and otner bodies of magnitude.
Said Mr.. Van Cleave both en-
ployers organizations and labor unions
have come TO stay. Intelligent organi-
zatiOn among employers is needed not
only to enable us to deal with labor
problems promptly and Justly. When-
ever they arise, bat also to equip us To
strengthen our Industrial position at
home, so that we can win the constant
" expanding markets abroad, which
we will need in order to keep our shops
busy and to provide labor for our
workers.
"AIl' the great national orSaniZa-
lions Of employers should come to-
gether in q spirit of mutual fraternity
and establish a central body in which
each would be represented. This body
could deal with the interests common
to all the organizations. These in
terests are not only large in number
but titanic in magnitude. Moreover,
they are rapidly expanding in eacn
particular.
"One Of the country's greatest needs
at this moment is the diffusion Of edu-
cation along sane lines. Social and
political Quackery should be rendered
impossible by instilling into the minds
Of employers, workers and the general
public ideas which will show them
that in the last analysis all their in
terests concide and injury to any one
element in society will react on all.
"One of the evils which every or
ganizatlon of employers is frequently
called upon to combat is silly or per-
nicious legislation. Fads. folies and
vices manager to register themselves
in bills introduced in Congress and the
various state legislatures at every SEES :
sion. Hhe nenaEogue and disturber are
always with us and they are always
active.
In fighting its ills each organization
now acts separately. F,aCn makes It's
own experiments and learns it's own
lessons from its own losses and the
losses are frequent and humiiatinG.
The losses and humilations which be
set us now, can be avoided only by
cooperation.
AS IL preliminary to settlements
which will stay settled. Mr.. Van ClcaTc
told the convention there must hc. at
the outset a full and frank recognition
of the fact that both capital and labor
have duties as we'll as rights. AS an
employer, he said, that all employing
interests should act on the assumption
that If labor leaders will eliminate I'M
lawful and coercive methods they must
be reckoned with as q fixture in AM
Cricas business life.
This is an age of concentration.
combination. consolidation, resumed
Mr.. Van Cleave. Labor has as large
an incentive and also as large right
to concentrate as has capital and Capi-
tai must concede this right. At the
same time employers must aid i'll
educating the workers, morally as well
uS intellectually. SO that they VIII
choose better officers than many Of the
grafters with which they have been
afflicted in recent years.
Let us have peace between workers
and Employers on a basis Of the recnG
milton. fully and frankly. Of the rights
and duties of EACH
Employers must work diScretly, Mr..
Van Cleave warned. so as not to give
opportunity to demagogucs to arouse
any class prcjudiceS. He averred it 10
be to the interest of employers. workers
and the public generally that the labor
leaders abolish all their ignorant ana
corrupt leaders.
Mr.. Van Cleave said the diffusion Of
correct ideas among the wage earners
OF the country IS one Of the largest
issues confronting public-spirited men
to-day. BY educating the rank and
file OF the unions. he declared. a way
for the BUSTING of corrupt lahor leaders
may be prepared. This done the
speaker said it will be easy to reach
an equitable agreement between
capital and labor.
Discussing agreements with labor
Mr.. Van Cleave expressed belief that
nearly all employers favor agreements
with labor as making for stable bust
ness conditions over term of years.
This gives employers an opportunity
to make contracts and to plan for a
few years in advance. Such collective
bargaining. Mr.. Van Cleave asserted.
is losing favor because less has been
accomplished than was expected. The
reason for this failure was said to be
an unwillingness or inability to reach
agreements that were equitable.
Derloring the absence of friendly and
confidential relations between en-
blowers and workers Mr.. Van Cleave
praised the work of President Roose-