The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-10
EX.PRESIDENT ELIOT
ON EVIL OF UNIONS
Famous Educator Answering
Trullcymans Letter States
His Views.
I\blCT> on FOUR COUNTS
whence. Limiting Of Output.
Uniform Wage and Breach
Of Contract.
1\blDT> on FOUR COUNTS

N-9 HAVEN. Feb 9.-Charles + PEN
d. ..,mh,r Of the New Haven Trol-
,.r.. , Juon IT this city, wrote to ex-
r.. ..' Eliot Of Harvard University to
--4 ...' rs Nj Fender expressed it, why
,e,. ...-' u-uished scholar manifested sucn
a...,. Tor the trade unions. lie asked
,r Et 10 he was aware of the fact
mat 'A.- uuonism had brought haVpi-
..- 200 tls worker because Of shorter
hours s.1 Increased pay. He also asked
,b.1. -.H1t sharing by the employees OF
. r.r..tHt. This VAS the reply received
ry ~. f,rIer to-day:
,hVsmpGE, Mass, Feb 8. 1914
rTvt. SIR. agree with you that
.-aaa unions have raised wages and
,-or,.-.4 hours and that collective bar
.sr.. e some industries has been de
.diff advantageous to the working
.,cll, There can he no question that the
,rfp-t system has been greatly improved
90 ,so course Of the last hundred years
.--oueh the war waged by the trade
,...u.- .aLt ust employers and managers.
md Fat It needed and still needs i'm
l-r'tU sH'.
"'l. objections to the trade unions are
...cc. '.,r educational and moral They
.-a-l o. ne To- have had a bad effect on
--. character and happiness u their
,v,-fhers because ~ certain methods
which th,, have used and are still using
The fist NJ these Objectionable methods
,If. h.bi.ual use Of violence against
re-.ous ami property to gain. their ends
rt.. second ls the limited output The
trfl = tine uniform wage, alike for all
.urn,yuvn without regard 10 age or
..Y The fourth .s the disregard of con-
.-t..,-.hei~ own contracts and tho con-
,-art, which employers or managers have
entered into with owners or consumers
hut have not Vet fulfilled.
"TN- first and last OF these practice.
A. grave violations of the universal mora!
s.r.. The second and third rob the
ao-r'r oman Of strong motives for self
IMPROVEMENT and make u probable that
'- vii. DO no hearty, Jealous faithiu!
work Under those conditions it is i'm
-oss o. 60 Doe happy in the life work .
-or there T. no happy, cOntentcd work
.,.ert that done with good will. generous
yea avid loyalty
Il cannot agree with you that the
.1d.s unions have brought happiness TO
nv workingmen. Higher wages. short
ned hours. better clothes and more meat
10 not necessarily contribute to genuine
rapp,uess, any more than the Injuries of
'f- rich do. Happiness and content are
s'GteS 81 mind
rs II rot perfectly plain that in our
country the trade uniouists are not really
Ho-rF rs A matter OF 'ttl ~ my NiAlth-
ny they never will be. so long as they
ca; no satisfaction in their daily work.
T, s the grudging spirit in which they
work which prevents them from getting
t-y content out OF their work for a live
brood
All we'll read. thinking people believe
tta, the progress OF civilization depends
on universal. steady, productive labor
.le unions seem to believe that the less
on, works the better.
Although profit sharing Is not apph-
,a.r . al industries | see In sound
methods ~ profit sharing one mode OF
..4,.. from he deplorable effects OF
--.i,s union teachings for just rroht
.a.r.ue Will present 10 employer ana EN-
owed alike precisely the same motive Tor
..-hful. generous. cooperative industry
..1 FOR successful productiven"ss Nc
3. :. sharing method will WORK which
..-, got turn out 10 be in the long run
tr1f,thIe alike 20 employer and employed
20 ovr.r and wage Garner, to capital ano
,abor Very truly yours,
CHARLES W ELIOT"