New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-22

plying To both capitalist and worker,
were formulated and strictly enforced"
"Do you consider trade unionism
helpful or harmful ?" Mr.. Berwind was
asked.
That he answered. depends upon
the union. It's effectiveness differs IN
different industries. II is 70 the inter
est OF any successful employer 70 see
that his employees are satisfied with
the conditions governing their work,
and in the majority OF cases ! believe
that they will respond 20 any reason
able want on the part Of their
workers"
When his opinion was requested re-
garding what reforms would bring 20
the community industrial peace and
the settlement Of the present unrest
Mr.. Berwind said that II unions were
10 continue they should be Offered by
men of proven competence md intelli-
gence.
Prefers Laws TO Unions.
PERSONALLY" he said, II believe in
substituting legislation for organiza-
ton. | should advocate that laws be
passed insuring fair play for both
sides in industry. In our own business
the results of unionism have not been
happy. Unions are too arbitrary and
short-sighted. If the laws were prop.
erly made and enforced there would
be no need for labor organizations.
81 think the present labor laws in
Pennsylvania are wholly satisfactory
but those in West Virginia should be
reformed and strengthened. This. re-
member. is my own personal opinion
and applies chiefly 20 coal mining.
am not familiar with the conditions
governing other industries
George ". Perkins then took the
stand. He told the commission that
the chief corporations In which he was
interested were the United States Steel
Corpora ion, the international Har-
vester Company, the Erie Railway, the
/ Florida East Coast Railway, the Gin
cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway
and the international Mercantile Ma
rine
He then read a statement covering
/ the points on which ne expected 70 be
/ questioned, in which he said he be
Z lieved that cooperation and not com
petition was the life of trade.
81 believe in this" he said, FOR both
capital and labor. But as in both cases
the result places large power IN the
hands Of a few men. believe that such
organizations should be under the
strict regulation and control OF th'
federal government. in order that they
may give the public the maximum
amount of good" D.,
Mr.. Perkins denied that the tariff
was responsible for the growth o.
trusts and attributed their growth q
the improved communication OF th'
present day. Absentee ownership, ne
also said. was an outcome OF the tele
phone and telegraph.
The witness also favored small
boards Of directors and the conduct OF
business upon a proilt-sharlng pass
~ have not only preached all tho
above" he added, but ! have practIsed
il for a number Of years"
"Our political leaders" he went on
tell us that competition Is still the
life of trade, that through IT we shal,
/ end great new freedom They tel
us that cooperation through corpora
tions is a great menace 10 our people
Germany takes exactly the opposite
view. Twenty-Five years ago Germany
was the land of small units IN business
and her people were leaving the coun'
try every year in large numbers. she
gradually changed her system from the
Eli destructive. competitive system "a
Tho svstem of large business. with CO.
operation on every hand. Her people
gradually stopped leaving Germany
until. during the two years preceding
the outbreak OF war, practically none
of her people left their homes TO looS
/ for better conditions elsewhere.