The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-06-09
WAR TIMES CALL FOR WELL
CONDITIONED LABOR

Washlngton-ReportS to A. +. of l..
headquarters indicate that the nations
best thought is accepting the trade
union position that labor laws and other
social legislation must not be waived
or weakened because of the war.
Exploiters of labor have failed to
twist the declaration of the council of
national defense to suit their purpose
This declaration is based on possible
eventualities that would mperil our ma
tional life. The council insists that it,
rather than an employer or group of
employers who would take advantage
of wars first alarms, is the best Judge
of future conditions.
President Wilson's clear-cut declara-
ton on May Is, in addressing delega-
ton of trade unionsts, has been a
powerful factor in checking this ten
dency, as it is notification to labor
exploters that they can expect no aid
from the nations chief executive in
their attempt to tear away the founda-
tions OF social progress. The Presi-
dent said
81 have been very much alarmed at
one or two things that have happened {:
At the apparent inclination of the legis-
latures of one or two of our States to
set aside even temporarily the laws
which have safeguarded the standards
of labor and life. | think nothing
could be more deplorable than that.
Therefore, | shall exercise my inhu-
ence as far as it goes to see that that
does not happen and that the sacrifices
we make shall be made voluntarily and
not under the compuson which is mis-
takenly interpreted to mean a lower
ing of the standards which we have
sought through so many generations to
bring to their present level"
In his telegram of April 80 to Illinois
trade unionists, Secretary of War Bak-
er said:
"The recommendation of the council
of national defense was that power to
suspend existing statutes be granted
only in emergency cases, and then only
upon request of the council and for |
stated period. The declared policy of |
the council is to maintain all existing
laws and regulations. No position has
been taken by the council in opposition
to or Encouragement of the passage of |
further regulations looking to improve
ment in industrial conditions"
Secretary of Commerce Redfeld took |
the same position in his address before
the convention of the National Assoca-
ton of Manufacturers, New York, May, |
IS:
"ln practice, therefore, there should
be no disturbance of labor standards, no
suggestion of altered hours Let these
things rest till the nation itself calls.
Keep the standards of living untouched
and the standard of friendly leadership
exalted. If the nations need shall CALL
you will be told what is required. Till |
that call shall come, let there be no un-
due pressure upon labor and let no ad-
vantage be taken whether for profit or
for pride or supposed principle in the
hour of the nations trial"
These declarations by President Will
son and his cabinet officials are in line
with the present attitude of the British |
government after its disastrous expert
ence following an assent to the plea of
employers identical to that in our own
country. British authorities have ac-
knowledged their mistake and the main
tenance of labor standards is now their
greatest consideration.
This war will not be 1OO-yard dash,
with the contestants calling on every
ounce of energy for the few seconds
necessary to cover the distance The
present emergency will be long strug-
gle, marathon. Under these circum-
stances it is worse than unwisdom to
devitalize our first line of defense, the
producers, by stripping them of pro-
lection against employers whose ideals
are less of patriotism than Of profits
and dividends.