The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1918-10-25

ity, including a former president of
the United States, and they are found
ed on thorough investigation and i'm
partial deliberation. What a change
there would be in the relations of
capital and labor if they could always
be regulated in such manner where
direct negotiations have failed. In
deed, direct negotiations would sell
dom fail if such an alternative were
certain in every case.
"But this inquiry discloses a fact
which is not SO gratifying. Here is
statement which is enough to make
one rub his eyes and wonder if he is
awake: Concerning collective bargain
ing, representatives Of the men said
the controversy would have been set
tied had the company chosen to meet
with committees Of its own workers.
The president and vice president of
the company stated that the custome
of the company in dealing Individually
with its employees would not be chang
ed and that no committee in the choice
of which the management had not
some voice would be received.
Corporation officials who can take
position like that do not belong in
this century and they do not belong in
the United States. They put them
selves out of court and they are not
the men to manage a great American
industry either in war or peace. This
refusal to meet a committee of your
own employees whose membership you
do not yourself dictate or regulate be-
longs to state of industrial autocracy
which long ago has passed away in
conservative England and it ought to
be abolished by the common sense
justice of American employers with
out further delay
"The right of collective bargaining
has long been recognized by our courts
and in our laws. 1t is founded on the
most obvious considerations of fair
ness. No real American can respect
policy which would insist upon a
single individual employe presenting
claim to the concentrated power of
the representatives of vast cor
poration.
Representatives of capital who
take such a stand are betraying their
own cause. They deserve the rebuke
Of public opinion and, if necessary,
the discipline of general law"
The above editorial is a complete
vindication of the demands of organ
lied labor for collective bargaining
which is merely another demonstra-
ton of true democracy, the inalien-
able right Of free people
"a n "a "a "a
In an address before the Ohio State
Federation Of Labor last week, Rev.
John 0Grady, member of the Old
Age and Health Insurance Commits
sion, said that during an investiga-
tion made by the commission in Ham
ilton, but three molders more than so
years of age were found. That means
that a molder at the age Of As years
is practically down and out, so far as
working at his trade is concerned.
Unless he has laid aside enough to
care for himself the remainder Of his
days he must depend for support up
on his children, friends, relatives or
go to the poorhouse. But if he should
live 20 or 80 years after no longer
being able to work at his trade, is
there anyone to believe that he would
be able to lay aside enough from the
earnings he receives these days in the
high cost of living to keep him? A
molder should receive twice what he is
earning today so that he COULD save
enough to keep him in the days when
he is no longer able to pound sand and
hot metal
"a "a e pa %
1t is said that the drys are making