The Detroit times., 1914-07-22
use OF GUNMEN
In LABOR WARS
IS DENOUNCED
Former Head of Illinois Manu-
facturers, Says Practice Is
Very Vicious"

CHICAGO, July 2l Use of special
deputies or eunmen by-empioyers I'M
labor troubles was denounced as
very vicious by Charles Plcz. Tor
inner president OF the Illinois ManuIac.
turers' association and the nrst Wit
ness Wheu the ttaeraE commission on
industrial relations opened ms ny,
days ayarluss IN the Hotel La Sale
today.
lnuncuons 20 prevent violence
should be issued in LABOR disputes
said Piez I'll they are not, There rs
only one alternative. That Is iOI she
employer 10 hire his own men 20 pro-
tect his property II the authorities
fail 20 cope with the situation con
slider that a very bad alternative
The suggestion OF ~ @ Ihompso on
counsel for the commission. that a
court OF industrial relations bc tstab-
hshed where every phase Of labor dis.
putes might be reviewed when trOu-
BILE broke out piez .Aou-ht would 80
long way toward eliminating vio
lence and bringing both sides 10 a bet
ter understanding
Piez who is president OF tile Link
y
Philadelphia, indianapolis and Chi
caEo plants testified before tine com
mission as an advocate ol tEc open
shop John II Walker president Of
the Illinois State Federation oil La
Dor, John Fitzpatrick president OF
the Chicago Federation OF Labor and
/ Duncan Mcdonald secretary OF the
Illinois Mine workers We're 10 follow
him and advocate the closed shop
Supporting piez Dudley TAYLOR coun
sci for the Employers association, Of
/ Chicago, and Edward T Bent of the
Illinois Coal Operators association.
were summoned 20 testify today
Piez bitterly condemned The prln.
ciple OF the closed shop speaking BE-
said. from experience with machlnts's.
and holders unions with which his
firm had had agreements in the past
He mentioned his company eNpe,
I rience with sam Parks, convicted New
/ York business agent several years
7 ago. as one % the reasons for his Or
position, and declared that since his
company had operated open shops it's
output per man had increased nearly
| 200 per cent with the same equipment
/ At the same time. he told the COM
mission he thought the principle %
! collective BARGAINING through unions
a sound one His company he said,
| had had working agreements with the
ICarpeuters and wheelvrights unions
flor < wears and has found The rcla-
! tions very satisfactory Ills oppost
/ ton 10 the other unions, be said was
biased on the fact that they were
/ grossly miamanaged by their officials.
| Piez said he gave the unions full
credit FOR forcing the enactment OF
I laws providing better working condt
Itions for employees Workmens com.
/ pensation legislation he said he ia.
vored He went further and endorse d
I legislation for sickness insurance as
4 provided In Germany but ~ thought
other suggestions. for instance insur-
ance against unemployment, TOO pa
! ternalis'ic'
! do YOU think workers are justified
Fin their complaint against the
i courts" Piez was asked
From my own experience ! think
Z capital and labor have mutual cause
1 for complaint replied Piez The
labor unions have my sympathies in
I that respect"
One suggestion offered by Piez was
that labor Unions be forced 10 incor.
porate and made financially liable for
any breach % agreement lie had
not gone into the details Of that plan.
he told the commission