Denver labor bulletin., 1917-05-12
BY GRANT HAMILTON

dexislative Committeeman. A. F. of L.
Recently the council of national de-
fense issued statement urging that
standards obtaining in industry should
not be disturbed until such time as
an emergency arose which, in the
opinion of the council of national de-
fense, demanded changes. Even should
an emergency arise no changes were
advised except upon specific recon-
mendations by the council of national
defense. Immediately there began a
campaign of misinterpretation and an
attempt by unfair employers to break
down existing standards and labor
laws. Organized labor has resisted
this attempt and will resist to the
uttermost the grad-grinds who as
sumo there is an opportunity afforded
by war conditions to strike a heavy
blow at union labor.
A few days ago a conference was
held in the department of labor at
which were present Secretary of La
Dor Wilson, Secretary of Commerce
Redfield, President John Williams of
the Amalgamated Association of Iron,
Steel and Tin Workers, Vice-Presi-
dent Larkin of the same association,
James Sullivan, assistant to Samuel
Gompers of the advisory commission
of the council of national defense, and
bllt
American Federation of Labor.
Issue Official Statement.
The subject of the conference was
the general labor situation in the
steel industry, with particular refer
ence to strikes then in progress. The
attitude of the council of national de
Tense was reiterated by Secretary
Wilson, and he being "A member OF
the council his statement is official.
The secretary, addressing President
williams Of the Steel Workers. said:
"Thc council Of national defense
takes this position, that the stand
ards that have been established by
law. by mutual agreement or by Gus
tom should not be changed at this
time: that where either the employer
or the employe has been unable under
normal conditions 10 change the stand
ards 10 their own liking, they should
not take advantage Of the present alb
normal conditions to establish new
standards Among those standards Is
the standard of living. The council of
national defense recognized the fact
that the standard Of living is an in
definite standard, difficult to deter
mine, that il is almost entirely de-
pendent upon the rate Of wages retain
ing the same purchasing power. II
the wages received will not purchase
as much. then the standard of living
is lowered II the wages received Will
purchase more. then the standard of
living is increased. Because of the
Indebtedness of the standard of liy-
ing and the maintaining of II Mt the
same point. the council recognizes the
fact that from time to time disputes
will arise as TO what is necessary TO
maintain that standard of living, but
it feels that before any stoppage of
work takes place in any industry IN
which the government is interested
for the maintenance of safety that
the established agencies Of the gov
ernment should be given an opportu-
nity to use their good offices to bring
about an adjustment of the impending
dispute.
Policy of Non-Interferencc.
Now. there is only one point aside
from the wage question in which your
organization is especially interested
in connection with standards, and that
is the question of recognition of the
union. That is the one burning ques-
ton in which. aside from these other
questions. you are involved. / do not
know the attitude of the other mem
bers of the council on this particular
point, but my own attitude is this,