The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-02-10
CALLS FOR LEGISLATION
Takes Advanced Ground On'the
Relations of Capital and La
bor-In This Connection
Sees Field For His Depart
ment Whose Functions He
Would See Clearly Defined.
{By the Associated Press.l

tBy the Associated Press,
Washington, Feb. 7.-Protest
AGAINST the use Of firearms and the
employment Of armed guards and pri-
yate detectives in labor disputes and
strikes was made by Secretary w. B.
Wilson, Of the Department Of Labor,
in his first annual report submitted
90 President Wilson. He recon-
mends that Congress enact legislation
within it's constitutional limitations
10 regulate this business in the inter-
est of public peace and order."
The use Of firearms" said Secre-
t.ry Wilson, "in a species Of private
warfare in connection with labor
strikes, calls for serious considera-
lion. Groups Of men on 10Th sides,
without military or police authority
for it, have used firearms with fatal
effect in the coal strike in southern
Colorado. These arms apd in the
ammunition have doubtless been r 0
cured trough Interstate commerce.;
and many Of the armed men are said
TO have been imported into Colorado
from other States through a business
concern engaged commercially across
State lines in supplying corporations
with an armed and trained private
soldiery or police in numbers run
ming into hundreds and even thou
sands. IN connection with the Pere-
Marquette strike in Michigan, armed
guards, furnished by agencies in other
states supplying men to take the
place of local strikers, accompanied
those men to Grand Rapids They
were there turned back by the United
States marshal under instructions
from the district Judge. In the Calu-
met copper-mining region, armed
guards under contract with the en-
ployers were forwarded to the locality
by agencies In other States"
Capital and Labor.
On relations OF Capital and Labor,
Secretary Wilson takes advanced
ground. The relation of employer
and w~age-earner," say he, lis no Ion
ger personal or Individual" because
both employers and operatives act In
groups.
1t is Obvious" the report says
That this method of employment
generally necessary for ice II
modern industry, may give to employ
srs great contractual advantages owe
wage Unless wage Garner
also act collectively through their owl
agents, they are often at a practica
disadvantage. Employers who act col
ieStively in hiring wage ar
often averse to dealing with agent
Of dage earners who collectively Of
fer their services. They desire t
contract with wage earners individ
ually. 1t is upon this point that la
Dor disputes frequently spring u
and become acute. In most instance
In which employers accord workme
practical recognition Of the right
collective bargaining which the
themselves exercise, fair relations al
maintained.
"In any circumstances, difference
must be expected to arise. In sue
cases the Department of Labor migl
possibly find a ground Il
agreement which the disputants,
their eagerness for advantage OF
the heat of their controversy, hS
overlooked"
Should Define Functions.
In that connection, it is suggestt
that Congress clearly define the fun
tons Of the Department Of Labor
he mediation Of labor disputes al
vote AN appropriation adequate
meet the requirements of mediate
work. In h a way, it was suggeste
the welfare of -wage-earners cou
be fostered while the prosperity
employers and the peace and good G
der of society at large were conserve
Amicable settlements between t
parties themselves, without mediate
are manifestly first in the order
preference. Mediation m ne
Arbitration third. But n OF the thu
rs preferable to strikes or 1OckOuts.
The success already achieved by t
department of Labor, in the adju
ment of labor controversies, demo
s%trates, in the judgment Of Secreta
Wilson, that such disputes nearly
ways may be adjusted to the PR
NJ all interests; and he believes IL
The department properly equpip
should be able to make mediation p
excessively popular with both the e
ployinS and the wage-earning int
es,s of the country
The report contains,a review of
labor controversies in which the 81
ofhces OF the Department of La
were exercised during the ten mon