The sun., 1919-10-13
SWEDEN FINDS WAY
TO DANISH STRIKES
One Vast Employers Associa-
ton and Centralized Union
of Workers in Control.
LABOR PROBLEMS SOLVED
Won Sydow and Lindqvist,
Here for Washington Confer
ence, Tell How It Is Done.

They do II better in Sweden. accord
ing to Hjalmar Won Sydow. general man.
eger OF the Employers Association Of
Sweden. and Herman Lindqvist. leader
OF the Swedish Trade Union party and
speaker of the lower house OF Parlia-
ment. both OF whom are here to attend
the International Labor Conference
which will meet October 20 in Washing
ton. According to these chiefs of the
capital and labor interests on the Scan
parties to organized industry have
achieved In Sweden a degree Of coopera-
ton which might be followed to advan-
tage in the United States.
In discussing labor conditions in his
native country Mr.. Won Sydow said yes
terday:
THE Swedish Employers Association
includes about two-thirds OF the whole
Swedish trade and thus as a matter OF
course takes the initiative in the rela-
ttons of all business to labor. In each
branch of industry, for instance, mining,
the employers are associated in a union
and all these unions together form the
Swedish Employers Association.
Working Conditions Controlled.
mo employer. no employers union.
can make an agreement with the work.
ers without the consent OF the Swedish
Employers Association, and so this as
ISOLATION Is able to control working con-
dltions Of every industry.
THE situation has a parallel on the
labor side. where there Is a mighty prin-
cipal organization. the chief OF which is
Herman Lindqvist, for whom the en-
p.oyers have great respect.
The fact that working conditions are
settled not after temporary display of
power by one side or the other, but after
certain general principles have been car
ried out to decisive action, involves
rlany advantages.
The employers and workers organi-
zations represent contending interests.
certainly. with different POINTS OF view,
but they have one thing in commc-
they must work for the development of
Industrial life. because il economical
conditions become disturbed the workers
condition will become worse.
The great organizations on both sides
nave learned to respect one another and
cooperation between them Is growing
better and better. So the possibilities OF
preserving peace have increased. Espe-
cially after the outbreak Of the war both
employers and workers endeavored 10
maintain order in industry and upon the
whole they succeeded"
Trade Unionism Centralized.
Speaking from the standpoint Of labor.
Mr.. Lindqvist said:
THE Swedish trade union movement
is centralized in the National Trade
Union Association. This large organiza-
ton, which in 1909 participated in a
gigantic struggle. 800. 900 workers taking
part. has had an imposing DEVELOPMENT
and numbered on July this year more
than $4,000 members, $4,000 being
women. The whole trade union move
ment in Sweden counts about 400, 900
members
The Swedish trade unions have al
ways worked on constitutional ground
and in intimate cooperation with the
Swedish Social emocratic party. and
50 the Swedish working class has been
able TO unite its powers at the various
elections. AS a consequence OF that they
now have majorities In many municipa,
representative assemblies
The advance of the working class
has fastened social legislation Thus
we have solved the question OF old age
and disability pensions and we have
also secured a modern law concerning
accident insurance. a bill about Illness
insurance is prepared and will be passed
at the next Parliamentary session, and
a committee has been charged with the
responsibility OF preparing a proposal
about Unemployment measures
Last, but not least, ] must mention
that the question of most vital i'm
portance for the working class. the regu-
lation OF working hours. has been solved.
Last month Parliament passed an act
legalizing the eight hour day"