The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-06-09
STANDARDS should
NOT BEl0WERED
Nations Best Thought Against
Weakening Social Legislation
During War. :,

to A. +. of L. headquarters indicate
that the nations best thought is ac-
cepting the trade union position that
labor laws and other social legisla-
ton must not be waived or weakened
because of the war.
EXplOiters of labor have failed to
twist the declaration Of the council IF
national defense to suit their purpose.
This declaration is based on possible
eventualities that would imperil our
national life. The council insists that
it, rather than an employer or group
of employers who would take advan-
tage of wars first alarms, is the best
judge of future conditions.
President Wilson's clear-cut decla-
ration on May is, in addressing a del
egation of trade unionists, has been a
powerful factor in. checking this ten
dency, as it is notification to labor
exploiters that they can expect no aid
from the nations chief executive in
their attempt to tear away the foun-
dations Of social progress. The presi-
dent said:
II have been very much alarmed 1t
one or two things that have happened:
At the apparent inclination of the leg
islatures of one or two of our states
to set aside even temporarily the laws
which have safeguarded the standards
of labor and life. I think nothing
could be more deplorable than that.
Therefore, I shall exercise my in
f1uence as far as it goes to see that
that does not happen and that the sac
rifices We make shall be made volun-
tarily and not under the compulsion
which is mistakenly Interpreted to
mean a lowering Of the standards
which we have sought through so
many generations to bring to their
present level"
In his telegram of April 80 to ILL
nois trade unionists, Secretary Of War
Baker said:
The recommendation of the coun-
Gil of national defense was that power
to suspend existing statutes be grant
ed only in emergency cases involving
the national defense, and then only
upon request of the council and for a
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 opposi-
ton to or discouragemento of the pass
age of further regulations looking to
improvement in industrial conditions.
Secretary of Commerce Redfield
took the same position in his address
before the convention of the Nation
al Association Of Manufacturers. New
York, May 16:
"In 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 friend
ly leadership exalted If the nation S
need shall call, you wilt be told what
is required. Till that call shall come,
ct there be no undue pressure upon
labor and let no advantage be taken
whether for profit or for pride or sur-
posed principle in the hour of the
nations trial"
These declarations by President
Wilson and his cabinet officials are in
line with the present attitude of the
British government after it's disastrous
cxperience following an assent to the
plea of employers identical to that in
our own country. British authorities
have acknowledged their mistake and
and the maintenance of labor STAN
dards is now their greatest consider :
ton.
This war will not be 100-yard
dash, with the contestants calling Oh
every ounce of energy for the few sec
onds necessary to cover the distance
The present emergency will be long
struggle, a marathon. Under these
circumstances it is :. orse than unwls-
dom to devitalize our first line Of de-
Tense, the producers, by stripping
them of protection against employers
| whose ideals are less Of patriotism
than of profits and dividends.