El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-09-17

eeT'HlS war must be carried on unit
1 the German government is wiped
from the face Of the earth and then
the German people must be assisted
in erecting a Democratic government
To accomplish this, there must be an
Industrial force maintained in the
rear. In dealing with this industrial
force. the question must be solved that
has disturbed the American people for
a long time-the conflict Of labor and
capital" said Louis +. Post. assistant
secretary Of labor, at a chamber of
commerce luncheon. given in his honor
Tuesday noon at Hotel Sheldon in
consequence Of this question we have
been separated into classes. It is alb
solutely necessary that during the
war, at least you should come to-
gether.
That's the message I want TO leave
here, and that's the message the presi-
dent wants me TO leave You have to
get together as comrades in the same
line Of work, and not as the lion and
the lamb All Of you, dependent one
on the other, are engaged in what is
necessary TO keep the world going.
The time for partnership in industry
has come. and the department Of labor
IS trying to bring il about It insists
that you get together on fair terms
whoever does not get that spirit is
not helping TO win the war, no mat
ter how much he waves the flag and
stands when The Star Spangled Ban
ner" is played
Lays a Basic Program.
Recognizing this, one Of the first
things secretary Of labor W. B. VIII
son did was the appointment Of
committee 10 lay down a basic pro-
gram He called Samuel Gompers to
name five men acceptable 10 labor,
and on the national industrial con-
ference board 10 select five satisfac-
tory 70 capital They did so. each
group being Numerically opposed 10
each other The chairman OF the Ia
Dor group was Frank Walsh and Of
the other was eNpresident William
Howard Taft. They were required to
act unanimously on their selection Of
a basic program.
Features OF Program.
These men. dramatically opposed.
did act unanimously. Then why can't
business men and wage earners all
over the country act unanimously
The important features Of the pro-
gram adopted were: That the right
OF workers TO organize and bargain
collectively is recognized; that the
right Of unionism shall not be
abridged by loclzouts or any other
way; that the right Of employers TO
organize and bargain collectively is
recognized and shall not be abridged. /
that no workers shall be discharged I
for membership in unions. that work
ers shall not coerce others to ioin
unions, that the sOcalled closed shop !
shall remain where il is now used and I
likewise the open shop. Incidentally,
there Is no open shop There are
two kinds Of closed shops: one where /
the employees won't allow nOnunlOm ]
men to work. and the other where Z
employers won't allow union men
Another principle was that women
shall be entitled TO equal pay for I
equal work with men, and that the l
right Of workers TO living wage is Z
declared.
Vow. as near a. the DEPART
ment Of labor can calculate. the
cost Of living has advanced G. to
G5 per cemt since before the war.
IRIS means that the wage Garner
today who f. not receiving two
thirds more than he did when the
war started is underpnid.
Government Takes Over Some
Now, the first question that con-
fronted the war labor board was the I
Western Union matter. The tele-i
graph company refused to keep men
IN its employ who Joined unions. The I
board was appealed TO, but the COM /
pauy maintained its attitude after the /
board had decided against it well
now the Western Union is an adjunct
to the government Of the United I
States
Then came the smith and Wesson 1
case That also is an adjunct Of the (
United States, where all munitiOn 4
plants ought TO be, anyhow. Then /
came the Bridgeport, Conn, NUM- I
ton factories. In this case the decis- ]
ion was against the employees and all /
accepted the decision except about 10 /
percent I can't say If they we're sub 1
jet TO German propaganda or not.
Mustn't Step Production.
Nov. what want you to do Is to