The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-07-03
UNIONS INDORSED.
Employer Takes Broad View OF
the Labor Problem.
PUTS MAN BEFORE DOLLAR.
Prominent Shoe Manufacturer Declares
That Wages Must Go Up and Divi-
dends Go Down Until Capital and
Labor Share In Fairer Measure.

Labor Share In Fairer Measure.
Business must he humanized and la
Dor unions encouraged. according to
, the opinion of John 5. Kent, shoe
manufactures of Brockton. Mass. and
president of the New England Shoe
and Leather association. This declara-
ton was made recently at IA meeting
of the Massachusetts Real Estate Ex-
change. Mr. Kent said
Our people must study our problems.
They must understand and appreciate
what is good and what is bad for bust
: ness 1t is their proposition as well
as ours We must make them feel the
partnership that should exist between
employer and employee. An enlight-
ened public sentiment is the greatest
force that can exist to protect and en-
courage our great industries.
No problem that Contronts us is more
complex and annoying than the labor
problem. and the question of preserv-
ing harmonious relations between man
ufacturers and workmen is deserving
and getting serious study. We are APP
preaching the subject in talrer way
and with more consideration for the
rights of labor and capital than IN
former years Men of the best JudS-
ment and greatest breadth of view
maintain entirely different theories on
how all interests can best be served.
but all have practically agreed that no
industry is worth anything TO a state
which does not pay good wages ana
prove self supporting The profit OF
an industry must be measured by the
value of the business TO the Whole
, community in which it exists and not
alone to its owners or stockholders.
Business must be conducted for men
and not men sacrificed for business,
Wages must go up and dividends must
90 down until capital and labor share
in fairer measure the profits that ac-
crue from the skill and effort of each.
We must cease building up great IN
dustrial centers by establishing cheap
wages and cheap living and recruiting
the ranks of workers from the need
: lest immigrants that reach our shores
No corporation has right to gather
, together mass of humanity for It's
own uses that is not self supporting
and self respecting. and then ask US TO
organize societies 70 work out the
problem. What shall we do to Amer
icanize the immigrants"
firmly believe that under present
conditions we should fully recognize
organized labor and work out our la
Dor problems with these representa-
tives of our workmen. The labor un'
ion must be reckoned with until some
better way is found to deal fairly be
tween employer and employees.
do not believe in everything that
organized labor stands for. 1t needs
reforming. just as modern business
does. There are good unions and bad
unions. and we should not hesitate to
praise the one and condemn the other.
Labor organizations need sympathy
rather than opposition. Their leaders
need encouragement instead of con
demnation.
If the public would discriminate be-
tween the men who fight for a great
principle in the labor movement and
those who fight for power or for love
of the game and give support to those
possessing wisdom. honesty and pa
triotism. much would be done to les.
sen the evils that arise from labor
controversies.
Arbitration does not offer a perfect
plan for settling labor disputes, but it
is the best we have. Collective bar
gaining between employer and work
men is recognized as fair TO both and
for this reason | think 1t will survive
1t may be claimed that arbitration is
always a compromise. but the same
may be said of government or OF de-
cisions of judges or jurors. We claim
that employers are liable for con-
tracts. Why not assist in building up
labor organizations that are RESPONSE
BILE for their agreements and that seek
to accomplish their legitimate objects
by lawful methods:
Indiscriminate opposition TO labor or
CARNATIONS and to labor leaders In
this day of progress Is not alone I'M
fair and unwise: II Is unprutitahle and
unavailng Employers need the light
on the subject rs we'll as workmen
The force thar is most etfectnal in de
termining the action nf organized In
] Dor IL public sentiment M man and
no orga niZatiOn OF nrn can long sue
coed without its Endorsement. Ii is
fair II majority rule Is fair Ii be
] longs permanently IL no one. IL can
not be bought or controlled. IL Is not
the product of minute. II Is essen
tally democratic II l. right II our
principles OF government are right II
settles all our problems Il l. the
i strongest factor in mnkine tnt Justice
prosperity and lndnstrlH' In'a"t. II
makes our laws ana 'ilrrlrS on GA
government.
Labor Exemption Upnelo
Exemption OF mbuI combinations IA