The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-05-26

con b. Robertson. senator, and vice
president of the Order of Railroad Te-
legraphers.
Those in attendance manifested espe-
cial interest in English conditions. and
a summarization of the talks by Bower
man and Thomas shows:
A government act provides there shall
be no stoppage of work upon war muni-
tions and related industries. All differ
ences shall be arbitrated. Where arbitra-
ton fails provision is made for settle
ment by government machinery in which
the employees are represented equally
Women are employed where no men
are out of work. Women must receive
equal pay. Government agrees that the
places of the men will be returned to
them after the war. There are 1,25O,OOO
women in industry who heretofore we're
not engaged in manual labor. The wom-
en- are joining the trade union move
ment.
Munition workers are enrolled as mu-
milton volunteers and are assigned by
the government to various parts of Eng
land. The highest wages of the district
they lett or in which they are now en-
ployed, is paid Every fortnight the gov
ernment gives them free passes on rail-
roads to visit their families, if awav
from home.
The 81 railroads in Great Britain are
under state control on the basis of guar
a;nteed profits of 1914. Some companies
have turned back to the government
large sums of money which is in excess
OF their 1914 profits.
Dock workers are enrolled in the
army as civilians, and wear the British
uniform. These workers must belong
to the union, and are mobilized for the
purpose of unloading cargoes in any
section the government elects. This
system was evolved by Lord Kitchener
and trade union officials.
NO move is made by the government
without consulting trade union officials
many OF whom are exempted from mill
tary service.
Landlords are prohibited from raising
rents and the government prohibits en-
p.loyers from reducing wages of pen
| WHO nave returned 10
their former employment.
Wages have been increased in proper
ton to the increased cost of living.
When workers demand higher rates, the
first question asked is what is the in
crease in the cost of living" That be-
ing ascertained, it is added
The English trade union movement
has larger membership than before the
war and it has surrendered no standards
definitely, although some are suspended
for the time being.
The government has given pledge to
relnstate every trade union practice now
suspended
The government joins with trade I'm
ionists i'll their opposition to child labor
on the ground that if the war were won
under those conditions it would be lost
as future generations would be de-
stroyed.
While the English trade unionists de-
clined to predict future social conditions
after the war, they were most optimis-
tic. They declared it was impossible for
the millions of men now fighting in the
trenches of France and Flanders-em-
ployer and employee from the mansion
and even the slum-to return to their
homes without having new viewpoints
because of the sufferings and sacrifices
of themselves and fellows.
The Canadian trade union representa-
tives said the Dominion government has
failed to take organized labor into its
councils and the conditions the imperial
government insists on in England in the
manufacture of war munitions are not
insisted upon in Canada, and that con-
ditions related by the English union
lists have not been secured in their coun-
try.
Other speakers included trade union
lists and John D. Rockefeller, Jr, and
Daniel Guggenheim. The visitors were
questioned after the speaking.
The conference visited the white
house and paid their respects to Pres-
dent Wilson. The chief executive, in
responding to an address by President
Gompers, dissented from those who adj
vocate setting aside labor laws because
of the war.