The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-10

ment to conscript labor, it should at the same time conscript the industries on which they are engaged. $
 Almost insuperable obstacles arise" says the Secretary of Labor, when labor disputes occur under circum- stances in which employers permit or ganization by their workmen only on pain of dismissal. Since in such cases the workmen have no responsible bus mess representatives, only one party to controversies can be conveniently or satisfactorily heard. In such cases, also, the workers, being prevented by their employers from organizing on 8 business basis, tend to fall away from the pacifying influence of conserva- tive. constructive, and responsible la Dor organizations and to come under that of irresponsible revolutionists. As most labor law1essness is traceable to this cause, responsibility for it can not be wholly diverted from the poli- cy-hardly patriotic in time of war of arbitrarily obstructing labor orga- nization of the conservative type.
 "The department is of course aware of proposals, more popular earlier in
 
 putes by coercing wage earners. But these proposals are both unfair and impracticable. They are also widely regarded, and not without reason, as unpatriotic. It is enough to say of them here that in the view of this department public sentiment can not be expected to tolerate conscription of labor for private profit. Should industrial conscription become really necessary in order effectively to pros- ecute the war, a policy less likely to be considered one-sided would be de- sirable. It would seem-that is, if the workers were to be conscrtpted for industrial purposes-that the working opportunities to which they were assigned ought to be comman- deered, so as to make such workers not coerced servants of employers but employees of the government itself.
 There is, however, no reason for experiencing a necessity for any kind of labor conscription in order to settle or prevent disputes between employ CTS and their employees which may in- terfere with vigorous prosecution of the war In every case in which re-
 
 employers are willing to negotiate considerably with responsible repre- sentatives of conservative labor orga- nizations which represent their dis putting employees in the spirit in which they would negotiate with business competitors, labor disputes can be set tied speedily, effectively, and without friction through the mediation service of the department of Labor. By sim ple anad fair systems of collective bar gaining between the government, la- bor organizations, and business orga- nizations all labor disputes prejudfcial to an effective prosecution Of the war can be promptly eliminated from war problems. Not only can this be done, but it can be done to the satisfaction of all concerned and in harmony with every patriotic purpose.
 "Our greatest need is the spirit of self-sacrifice for the common good sacrifice of our pride, sacrifice of our prejudices, sacrifice of our suspi- cions against each other, sacrifice of our material comforts, sacrifice of our 1 lives, if need be-to carry on unim- paired the democratic institutions handed down to us by our fathers" | The report makes an announcement on the much discussed pay and privi- leges being allowed to the intefned German civilians in the camps con- trolled by the Department of Labor.
 ''It was agreed by the Departmen l to renumerate those of the 5interned aliens who should perform labor of | any kind in connection with the con- struction or management of the in- ternment camp at the rate of SEQ 3 month; those who served in the ca 1 pacity of foremen, etc., to receive $2E month. The interned officers, how ever, have been allowed to receive from any source only $10 a month and the seamen $5 8 month, receipts 1 in excess of these amounts being plac- ed in the Postal Savings bank to the credit of the interested parties, ol otherwise disposed of as desired. Pur- chases of clothing, etc, can be made with the funds of the interned aliens under the direction of the inspector in charge of the internment station
 The Departments work in mediat' ing in wage disputes, enormously in creased by war activities, have affect ed practically million men and hay' been eminently successful.
 'sThe number of labor disputes call ing for government mediation increas ed suddenly and enormously with tn beginning of the war; says the re port.
 'sIn a. large number of instances tn conciliators have been able not onl to bring about agreement in cases o existing differences-often arisin from misunderstanding t l, avert the threatened strike altogether
 '0rhe success which has attende
 the departments representatives fl
 the great majority of disputes ha
 been most gratifying. In many in
 stances through the efforts of the de
 partment ..:strikes which would hay involved thousands of workers engag ed in great operations were quietl
 ayerted and industrial peace maiT
 tained. All this was accomplishe
 without publicity and the consequer
 excitement which invariably attend |, industrial disturbances when heralde
 in the press. Great plants thus secul
 ed uninterrupted production for stat
 ed periods-some of the agreement
 running for year and others for tn
 period of the war.
 Labor has discovered that it has
 standing in the government machtT
 erv of it's country whenever it's dc
 mands are based on its industrial an
 constitutional rights. Employers, 0
 the other hand, have found in the de
 partment defender against unreasor able exaction.
 Reports now at hand indicate a impending call for not less than 150 Innn -I-IIIoj5 Of m nv 6lp aga