The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-25
COUNCIL
FINDS AWARDS
SATISFACTORY
Attitude of Manufacturers
Will Determine Fate of Rec
concentrations.

An entlrely optimistic atmosphere
pervaded Central Labor Council
Thursday night concerning the awards
made by the war labor board The
awards were discussed and viewed
from all sides and members of the
council and organizers who are in
Richmond expressed favorable opin-
ion toward the situation in Richmond.
However, they urged more interest
and action in the Central Labor body.
Paul j. Smith of the American FEEDER
alton OF Labor, said last night that
he was disappointed in again coming
into the Central Labor Council and
finding the body in state Of procras-
tination and apathy.
Il am not going to say what | think
of the awards" said Smith. II believe
that the manufacturers In Richmond
have seen that the industrial cOndi-
TONS in the country have SO changed
that there is no way around collec-
tive bargaining. There may be some
who will fight to the last ditch. In
that case you should prepare. How
ever, you do not want to make the
worthy manufacturer suffer l wish
that we might start Immediately to
settle this problem at conference
table at which every organization and
manufacturer might be represented.
Should Comply with Decisions.
If the manufacturers OF Richmond
are willing to do anything at all they
ought to be willing to comply with the
decisions of the war labor board. IL
they are not, then they will never do
anything and you will continue to
work under the old autocratic man
agement OF industry.
There is, however, a very good as
pect TO the situation. The general
public is willing 10 back the labor
movement in bringing about this de-
cision. The ministerial association is
with the labor movement so far as
these recommendations go. The
press of the city of Richmond is with
the working people SO far as this de-
cision goes. There are number of
manufacturers that are willing TO CON-
ply with this decision. 1ne only
thing now that is left 10 solve Is Just
how we shall go about to get these
decisions that nave been given US.
If they do nothing else they establish
collective bargaining.
Some factories here have 100 per-
cent organization. Some have drop
ped out OF organization. Some are
waiting to see whether or not the
awards will be put into effect. Our
biggest task is to make the fellows
see their mistake in dropping from
the organization. II we had the right
Organization II would not be neces-
sary TO hold conferences The en-
pioyers know the situation as well as
We do. They know our strength and
our weaknesses.
Must Set Workers Right.
You must go out among the work
ers and set them right. You must be-
gin to look forward from now on to
the selection of a committee for each
and every plant. The selection of this
committee will depend more or less
upon the decision of the War Labor
Board being put into effect. Radicals
are alright in their place but the men
to carry this decision out to success
full conclusion should be conservative
and fair minded, but firm. They must
be men whom the employers and the
general public can have confidence in.
II they know ahead what kind of a
committee they have to deal with they
would feel more kindly and would not
hesitate to give collective bargaining.
Each organization should select q COM
mittee in each shop. You want equal
representation and il necessary you
want to be able to go before the pub
lie of Richmond ready to stand the
most acid test. The most important
thing Is to select the right kind Of
men.
II expect to hear by Monday or
Tuesday something definite from the
other side. We do not want strikes
or disturbances of any kind. We want
to maintain harmonious position
from the start. We want to keep
within bounds. Yet we want to be
prepared to look out for the welfare Of
the working people. We want to find
a peaceful and harmonious solution to
the problem. We want TO put the de-
cision of the war labor board into eff
feet.
I'VE will know in a few days wheth-
err we can be peaceful, whether we
can have collective bargaining and
wage commissions or whether we will
fight
Some Oppose Decisions.
THE representatives here plan to
take IN every organization. we must
wait few days to find out where we
are. Some manufacturers in Rich
mond are willing to try out collective
bargaining. Others are opposed. If
they are not willing to give you that,
they are not willing to do anything for
the great service you have rendered
them during the last few months"
Talks were made by Roy Steele,
John Putterbaugh, Lucius Harrison.
Robert Graham. all members of the
General Labor Council; r. L. Corley
Of the machinists, James G. Quinn, OF
the Hatters' association. and Adolph
Fritz Of the Indiana Federation of
Labor.
The members of the central labor
council were particularly warned to
pay attention to the union label and
patronize the union label always.
The regular business of the meeting
was dispensed with in order to give
the members of the council and organ
izers chance to talk. The members
of the council said they felt the
awards of the labor board were the
best that could be got under the cir.
Gum sfopces and that thew felt sat.