New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-27
Union Standards for War Work

problem eminently satisfactory 10 "oih-
er.. employers and government ofhclals'
II. as The Tribune's Washington CORE
spondence indicates, the principle involved
in the agreement just reached is to be ex-
tended to apply to all government war
work a wise precedent will have been
established and a growing danger saga
ciously met.
This war to make the world safe for
democracy will be fought as much IN the
factories at home as in the trenches III
Europe. In fact, if the factories, the
farms. the railroads, do not do their part,
the army and the navy cannot do theirs
Economic hardship or injustice cannot be
Permitted in the factories at home any
moro than starvation or epidemics could
he permitted among the soldiers. On the
other hand, strikes and industrial disturb
ances here would be as serious as mutlny
among the men in the trenches.
All this President Wilson and his ad-
visers early recognized. An understand
ing was reached between the Council OF
National Defence and organized labor,
represented by Mr.. Gompers. that a truce
was to be declared in the industrial battle,
with each side pledged not to take advan-
tage of the country's need by seeking ag-
erandizement at the expense Of the other
The President made vigorous declara-
tion against the breaking down of any
laws establishing standards of working
conditions and requirements for industrial
safety. He insisted that this was a fight
for democracy in broader sense than was
expressible in political terms. Any action,
therefore, undoing progressive social legls-
iation would be action false to the spirit in
which America had entered the war. 1t
was for this reason that Governor Whit
man vetoed the vicious Brown bill passed
at Albany, which would have made pos
slble the breaking down of all legal safe
guards for workers.
Notwithstanding the endeavors OF the
labor leaders and employers to preserve
Industrial peace, disturbances have arisen
Who was at fault in these cases is beside
the noint at this time. What is important
is that the government, by providing for
the payment of union wages and demand
ing union standards for working condl-
tons on war contracts, has taken course
which ought 10 forestall any future
trouble. unless malcontents and sedition-
mongers find fertile soil for their seeds o!
treason. Union wages, union standards
represent about the maximum which the
workers feel the traffic will bear at any
time. They are framed to meet the de-
mands Of livings cost; they embody
roughly, the workers idea Of social and
economic justice. The nation which re.
Gently raised its scale Of soldiers pay
could not we'll refuse to take equivalent
action for the benefit of its workers, play
ing an equally important part in the carry
ing on of the war.
JOI Llllo NOAisN Ai4N CHlbNb pNSAlSS EON'
eminent has ample precedent in the policy
which Great Britain has worked out
There at first labor safeguards were aban,
doned in a mad rush to hasten production
by any means. But unlimited overtime
work was found not to increase produc
tion permanently. The health of labor
suffered efficiency was impaired. Now the
great bulk Of war work is done under
agreement by which profits are limited
wages are controlled by government tri.
bunals, with increases allowable to meet
increased cost Of living and strikes no,
lawful; with approximately the old unior
rules or legal restrictions as 70 hours oil
labor, days of and the like in force
Where women are employed on jobs for
merry held by men the minimum wages
FOR men are paid TO the women.
This war has brought vast changes int,
the industrial life Of the country. II ha'
opened for many employers avenues OF
proft-making which would not otherwis,
exist. These war profits are TO be taxed
which is just. In spite Of that, war fort
uneg will be made. The government coulC
rot, in good grace, permit any fortune {;
he unduly swelled by conniving at tho
grinding down Of labor through under
payment or the maintenance Of anything
approaching sweatshop conditions or in
dustrial peonagc. It's action in under.
taking 70 regulate wages and working con
ditions for the shipbuilders shows that il
does not intend 10 permit anything OF the