United labor bulletin., 1912-09-05
MANUFACTURERS WHO HAS HUMAN
ITARiAN INSTINCTS.

Washington-Th following article
sent to the headquarters of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor from Grand
Rapids, Mich, and purported to have
been published in the Press of that city,
is of such an unusual nature that it is
intensely interesting. 1t Is indeed re-
freshing to discover man who, though
he be identified in executive capacity
with an employers association. is broad
gauge enough and sufficiently courage
GUS to express himself as opposed to the
ordinary methods employed by manufac-
turers' associations. The article is
printed in full. n
"a representative of the employers
associations who is in Washington
watching legislation has sent Secretary
Linton of the National Furniture organ
ization, statement in which he urges
the furniture makers to protest to men,
bers of congress against favorable re-
ports upon the Clayton anti-injunction
bill and the contempt OF court bill
fathered by the same author Mr.. Lin
ton referred the statement to George P.
Hummer, of this city, for advice, as Mr.
Hummer is a member Of the executive
committee His reply. as follows. will
be read with general interest
"'John S. Linton, Grand Rapids
Mich: l am in receipt of your favor
with inclosure which is herewith re-
turned l do not believe that the posi-
ton taken by the writer who signs this
statement is the proper one. The indus
trial and economic unrest which seems
to possess large part of our popula-
tion will not be removed or m1tigated
nv an uncompromising attitude on the
mart of those against whom the results
of this unrest are aimed. I believe that
the thoughtful men of the country have
got to meet conditions fairly and intelli-
gently, making concessions where equity
and the widening intelligence OF the
people demand.
at may be necessary to go even fur
ther than the thoughtful Judgment OF in
teIligent men feel is wise, but am sat
isfied that the great mass OF the people
are determined in their efforts to seek
relief from conditions which they think
are not just and equitable; and while
personally feel that present conditions
are not nearly as inequitable as the
great body of our people seem to THINK
still we not only have to meet actual
conditions in the minds of the people,
but psychological conditions as well.
"If the remedies the people are de-
manding fail to bring relief or tend to
aggravate conditions, these remedies
can be abandoned by the same force
that brought them into existence, but
there is no doubt in my mind that there
is an indefnable feeling among the
great mass of people that gross inequali-
ties in the social body exist, and they
are determined that something must bf
done to seek remedy. My opinion Is
that a stolid Indifference to these de
mands, and a determination to stano
still. will only aggravate the matter anc
ultimately cause an explosion 1t is no
time to nail down the safety valve. For
the above reasons, it is my opinion tho
it is unnecessary to do ANYTHING at the
present time respecting the measures
mentioned now before congress. Yours
very truly.
GEORGE P. HUMMER
Mr.. Hummer, it is reported, is pro-
prietor of the West Michigan Furniture
compapy. located at Holland, Mich.
Beats them all. La Belle Be cigar,