The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-04-28
TO STUDY, NOT TO HINDER
By PRESIDENT GoMpERs.

followed by feeling and fear of un-
known disturbances in the commercial
and industrial world. There were rumors
and the beginnings of efforts to make
war danger the excuse for changing
completely existing standards Move
ments began to suspend or to change the
standard of the workday and other con-
ditions established to protect the health
and to conserve the labor power of
workers.
In order to inject something that
would act as a steadying force during
the first hours after the war, the execu-
tive committee of the committee on la
Dor, including conservation of the health
and welfare of workers, adopted dec
laration which was referred to the ad-
visory commission, and when adopted
by that body, to the council of national
defense. The council of national de-
tense then adopted and made public the
declaration The purpose of the declara-
ton was to prevent enactment of lepis
lation repeating labor legislation and to
prevent unnecessary, ill-advised and has
ty changes of standards in private in
dustry. The declaration urged upon the
legislatures of the several States which
were then in session and would shortly
s. adJourrl-some Tor a two-year period
that before final adjournment they dele
gate to the governors of their respective
states the power to suspend or modify
restrictions contained in their labor laws
When such suspension or modification
should be requested by the council of
national defense, and that such suspen-
slons or notifications should be made
only tor specified period and no longer
than the duration of the war
In the course of the meeting at which
these resolutions were passed. if was
clearly stated and understood that the
intent OF the first resolution regarding
possible emergencies requiring modifi-
cations in existing standards was to
maintain existing standards. The atten-
ton OF the committee was directed to
the tact and it was generally under
stood tor the basis of our action. that
Workmen employed in the transporta-
ton systems and industrial plants NAV
hnd their wages of the present time out
OF proportion to the increased cost of
hving, and III that case maintenance of
the present status of labor conditions oh
vlously implied an advance in wage
scales.
IN the discussion on this point which
followed in the committee. consideration
was gwen to the circumstances in which
during the war, organized English min
ers were obliged to demonstrate the ne
cessity of a wage increase, the award
being in their favor when thev had
proved the considerable changes thatshad
taken place in the cost of living. Plain
~, IN similar cases in this country.
higher wage scales must be adopted
Therefore, there were incorporated in
the resolutions the recommendation that
proposed changes should be made only
after investigation and approval by
the council OF national defense, whose
DUTY IN this respect should also be a
vigorous maintenance of safeguards to
the health and welfare of workers.
he resolutions in question clearly an
ply only to the large industries and
the transportation systems whose opera
tons are essential to the prosecution of
the war. They are not intended to cover
every petty labor difference in the coun
try, though it is hoped that patriotic re-
gard will be had by all citizens to the
need OF possible maximum of indus
trial peace everywhere. 1t is, of course.
not expected that negotiations or even
strlkes now on III various occupations
shall be wholly suspended irrespective
OF the merits of the questions under dis
ccusson. On such points each trade union
is the judge of the principles which
should prevail in its action.
The special attention of trade unions
is called to the fact that the resolutions
declare that legislatures should uphold
and public officers enforce existing la
Dor and health laws, and that the modi-
ilcations or standards authorized in ex-
traordinary emergencies by the council
OF national defense should be only for
specified periods and in any event not
longer than the duration of the war.
With this statement, | feel that each
case OF differences arising between en-
ployers and employees, as well as the
trade agreements or other matters now
under discussion, may be left to the com
mon sense of men who are willing and
anxious to perform their duty to their
country in the present grave situation
trust that the above will clarity the
misunderstanding which really occurred
not so much from what was published
IN the newspapers, but the scare head
lines which had really no relation to the
substance of the body of the resolutions.
take it that in this crisis in orr ma