Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-14
FOR Benefit OF ALL
Object of labor Unions Theme
of Secretary Wilson,.
LABOR Department HEAD
Speaker at Mems Club Meeting Out
lines Policy in Adjustment Of
Differences.

The policy of the new Department OF
| Labor in settling 1abor disputes was out
,, lined by the first Secretary, William B.
Wilson, when he addressed a meeting of
the Mems Club of st. Marks parish at
the parish hall, Sd and streets south
east, last night. After reviewing at some
length the history of organized labor,
the Secretary told of the esta blishment
of the department of which he is the first
chief He declared that while a provi-
sion for compulsory arbitration in labor
disputes was purposely left out of the Or
ganic law of the department. he re-
marked with emphasis that when both
tempt to mediate differences he would
point out to the employers that the en-
ployes were their partners in production
and that as such they had a right to take
part in forming the partnership agree
ment.
1.-The labor question is as broad as hui
man effort ITSELF Secretary Wilson de-
cared. Some people believe, and wrong
ly so. that the labor question only takes
into consideration the hours which men
work and the compensation which they
receive.
THE labor question, / want to say,
takes into consideration every single eff
fort that moves for the welfare of man.
kind. 1t is only by labor that We are
able to continue Our existence"
Even in the tropical countries. where
some believe that the natives do not
have to work, the Inhabitants have to
labor to get their food he said.
Men With Common Purpose.
ering together of men for common pur-
pose. They combine in efforts to i'm
prove the conditions under which they
toll. Trades unionists are generally al
truistic in their aims and their objects
Theirs are not efforts for individual gain
but for the collective gain And right
here I want to say that the anti-trades
unionists benefit as much by the efforts
OF the organized labor movement as the
trades unionists themselves
Secretary Wilson, who was himself a
representative in Congress-, declared that
not a law Is put on the statute books
unless there is some agitation for it.
The Secretary said he couldn't blame
the employers for not lettering condi-
tons. They are not in business for
philanthropic motives, but for the dollars
and cents. Some of the men who are
willing to better the conditions of their
employers are held back by their COM
petitors, who are very unwilling to better
working conditions and are less Char
itably and less justly Inclined
1T was only by continued agitation
he said. that the number of working
hours composing a day have beeen re-
duced to eight. and at the same time
working conditions materially improved
for the employee The Secretary at
| tributed the establishment of the pres
ent school system to the agitation by the
old trade uaionist movement. He cited
| this as an instance where the non union
| list gained by the efforts of the labor agi-
\ tation.
Discusses Compulsory Arbitration.
Taking up the question of compulsory
| arbitration, Secretary Wilson declared
| that such provision was purposely left
out OF the law, because IL the employer
was compelled to accept the result CAPT.
tai might be exhausted. and if the en-
ploye was forced to accept there would
be created condition of slavery. The
employer is protected against unjust de-
cision because the distinct profit and loss
line as shown by his records will furnish
the basis for reaching a satisfactory
agreement.
1.-The only fair way he said, us for
both sides to the dispute to get together
and mutually agree that the arbitration
shall take place."
AS an instance of the partnership rela-
tons which, he said, exist between en-
ployer and employee, the Secretary cited
as an instance an occurrence in a Penn
sylvania coal mine. He declared the
miners had a grievance about which they
were in the habit of comforting with the
manager of the mines, both sides discuss
ed the question and a satisfactory agree
ment reached. Then came along a new
manager. The miners went to him. to
take up a matter. He told the miners
committee that he was sent there to run
the mines and he didn't intend to be in
terfered with by any one man or any set
of men.