New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-13
COMMITS U.S.T0 FORCING
UNION LABOR ON CAPITAL
Secretary Wilson Tells A. T. l.
His Department Will Coop
crate in Movement.
PROPERTY HELD IN TRUST
Big Copper Mining Concerns
Warned of Coming Revision
of Conception of Titles -
Earnings To Be Exposed.

Seattle Wash. Nov. Undressing the
delegates of the American feuera,i'n
Labor to-day as Fellow unionists' SCI
rotary w. b. Wilson OF the Depart
of Labor told them In erect tnat IL 'io
big corporations did not accept u"''
unionism willingly IL would be forced on
them.
There can be no mediation. there can
be no Cancellation between employers ana
emploves that does not presuppose coilec-
tive bargaining, and there cannot De COT
lective bargaining that does not presup-
pose trade unionsm," he said.
THE Department Of Labor as now or
ganIzed and directed will be utilized to
cooperate with the great trade union
movement in its effort to elevate the
standard OF human society
"One OF the general duties imposed on
the department Is that Of promoting the
welfare OF wage workers. The one great
specific duty imposed on the department
is to act as a mediator and to appoint
commissioners of Cancellation In trades
disputes"
OF the situation at Calumet, Mich, the
Secretary said that II ha heretofore been
the custom to investigate wages, hours
and conditions OF labor and report. This
time, he said, II had been determined TO
90 a step farther AMI investigate the
earnings OF the CORPORATIONS involved
Earnings Are Barred.
And the little bit OF confidence that
am going to give you" he added. 'is an
advance statement OF one Of the items in
that situation. that the largest corpora
ton engaged IN the production Of copper
in the Michigan district was organized IN
1870 under the laws of the State II Michi-
gan, that the face value Of its capital
stock j. 50. 800 GO. The shares are f2j each.
They were purchased IT $l2 each, so that
the actual investment is $4,000
From that time until one year ago. the
last fiscal report that we had, a period OF
forty-two years. that corporation declared
I'm dividends H2l. 5000 and made reinvest-
ments out OF it, earnings of $4,000.
Nearly 500. OF actual net profits In
n period Of forty-two years on an invest
ment OF $4,000. and then they not only
protest against meeting committees OF
their workmen, but refuse 10 accept the
good Offices Of the Department Of Labor
In negotiating the difficulty.
They say their property is their own.
that they have the right TO do with II as
they please. May be they have. but those
who take that position have false con-
ccption OF the titles To property"
The Secretary said every title was law
created and law-protected. and that de-
prived OF those laws the property In
voved would be- AT the mercy OF the first
strong and cunning man who desired II.
Property Held in Trust.
Law created those titles" he con-
tinuod. not primarily for the welfare OF
the man To whom II conveys II, but
for the welfare of the community,
II any Individual or corporation takes
the ground that the property is his
own, that he has the right to do
with it as ne pleases. and falls 10 take
trustee for the welfare OF society, then
ne is creating "A condition that will
cause society to modify or change these
titles to property. as it has perfect right
TO do whenever in it's judgment IL deems
1t for the welfare of society To do it,"
Mr. Wilson condemned the sending of
strike breakers by private employment
agencies. and said:
II wish TO see created within the De-
partmcnt of Labor a bureau OF informa
ton that will be handled much on the
same lines az our weather bureau OF in
formation.
Speaking Of the power Of organized
labor, he said:
"As | look back over my forty years OF
experience as a trades unionist can see
many men that never acquired promi-
hence in the trades union movement, men
that might have swayed the rod OF en-
plre, who were crushed by the wayside
by the power of organized capital because
they dared 10 protest against unjust and
unfair conditions.
Il can see that crushing process going
on here and there in our country to-day.
and II the Department OF Labor can do
anything to wipe out that crushing
process. that process OF crushing the toll
ers because they dare TO protest. the De-
partment. OF Labor will utilize everything
in its power to prevent It,"
ppllkI0 QQhNEC TUE RR0MY