The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-04
THE EMPLOYERS PLIGHT.
Should Not His Necessities stir the
"SOcial Conscience?

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. IL
would seem as VI the man who a
worked his way up from the laboring
class and has become an employer in a
small way is precisely the man who de-
serves well of his community. But the
growing demands of the labor unions
with a strange lack OF foresight are adj
mirably calculated to discourage. II not
to put out of business. any but the large
and powerful employers Of labor.
Public opinion Is Keyed to hear the
wrongs OF the poor w~orkiDgman. but
any voice lifted in behalf of the en-
ployer liz supericially set down as one
in behalf of oppression and greed. !
frankly admit my ~sympathies and APP
prevail are for the man who, once a
workingman. has through grit and per-
severance. through many personal sach-
fees and hardships, at last risen to the
employer class. | think the qualities
possessed by such a man are most val
ugble and dangerously apt to be ignored
or dcspised.
A couple OF years ago. just such a
man. a tailor on upper Madison avenue,
running "A small but growing establish
ment. showed me the real despair in MS
heart on receiving the communication
sent him by the Ladies' Tailors and
Dressmakers Union. Local 3S. which Is
at present on strike. This cominunica-
ton, besides demanding more money for
less work. that IL taken for granted In
my strike. asks that help employed
shall be considered employed on trial
during the first week of their employ
ment Onlr."
Now, what employer can run his bust
ness IL tied hand and foot like this? IL
is to deny the frailty of human nature.
to suppose that many will not take ad-
vantage of this to speed up and do eX-
cellent work for one week only!
Astounded. I asked the tailor IL he
could not dismiss a worker for incom-
pctence. No, he assured me, there was
so much red tape, such delays with the
investigating committee. the worker
meanwhile receiving her full pay. that
II was practically impossible to dismiss
any one for incompetence.
Remember, this was the serious charge
made by the railroads. We hold a rail-
| road responsible for wrecks, hut the
officers of the railroad do not dismiss
so much. at its last analysis, as the union
does. We hold a tailor responsible for
"A misiit or a badly hanging or poorly
sew suit. and he is not able to dismiss
a worker whose work deteriorates after
the one short weeks trial
My tailor furthermore assures me that
he must keep his full complement ~
workers even IL he has not q work
to go around. He cannot dismiss some
during slack seasons. but must parcel
| our four girls work. for instance. among
ten. IL he started the season with ten.
Where is the justice of this? II looks
to me as II social workers ave become
80 exercised over the difficulties and
cruelties OF sea sonable employment that
they are losing their sense of justice.
II certain employments are seasonal.
why make the employer bear all the
Disadvantages?
Has not the time come when our So
cial conscience should take cognizance
of whore our sentimcntality is leading
us" Must we go on forever helping the
physically unfit. the technically inefii-
cient, the morally weak, at the expense
OF the few whose qualities, physical and
moral. are among the most precious
heritages of the human race?
The closed shop. for which t7o union
relentlessly works. spells injustice to the
best element in society. II robs nm VINO
has struggled upward of all he strug-
gled upward to obtain. and by this | do
not mean merely dollars.
ANSIE NATHAN MEYER.
NEW YORK. October >.