The sun., 1919-08-31
FINDS SUPERIORITY
IN U. S. LABOR PLAN
James w. Sullivan Reports
That British System Is
Far Behind.
CENTRAL CONTROL HERE
Says Efficiency Of American
Federation Avoids Confusion
Of English Method.

No support for the view Of some
American workers and theorists that
the labor movement in Great Britain
Is better than ours and should be copied
Is to be found in a report made public
yesterday by the American Civic Fed
grafton.
The report is that Of James w. Sui
Ivan. long associated with Samuel
Gompers In the inner councils of the
American Federation of Labor. He was
the labor member OF the commission
sent abroad several months ago to study
industrial conditions in Great Britain,
france and Italy. The object OF the
commission was to report on any meas
ures employed for bringing capital and
labor closer together, or for the ex-
elusive betterment of labor, that might
be deemed worthy of adoption in the
United States.
Mr.. Sullivan finds that British trades
unionism Is crude and clumsy compared
with ours. that the American Fedora
ton of Labor is superior In organiza-
ton and efficiency to any or all the
British bodies, that the British Labor
party has brought confusion to the
workers, and that American employers
have gone further than British employ
ers In admitting employees to partici-
patton.
He considers first the so-called shop
stewards movement" for which extrav-
agant praise has been heard in this
country and which was debated at the
recent convention of the A. +. of l.. in
Atlantic City. He says II was mainly
in It's beginning a schism from regular
trades unionism, and later thrust
toward nationalizing and democratzing
industry. 1t was a product of the war
emergency, with which British trades
unionism was incapable OF coping, and
passed away with the signing OF the
armistice.
Has No Centralized Control
Mr.. Sullivan lays emphasis on the
fact that unlike the United States, Great
Britain has no authorized central execu-
tive labor organization covering all occu-
pations for the entire country. with
which employers, singly or in bodies,
may treat. He quotes a prominent Brit
ish trades unionist as saying to him
1T believe that the superiority In
organization of the American Fedora
ton of Labor is due largely to the fact
that among It's oriEinators were English
men who, having had experience with
the shortcomings of British organization.
suggested correct forms for America"
Mr.. Sullivan finds much sentimentality
and little practical sense among those
who are playing up characterization OF
industry" workers control" "a voice
in the management" IAN economic
democracy" labor to head the bust
ness" wage earners at the directors
table" and similar phrases. behind which.
he says, is screened big idea-"a COM
pound OF syndicalism, Socialism and the
newfangled guildism." He examines the
Renold factories In Manchester, where
directive powers were said to have been
transmitted to the workers, In consplc-
uoas way. TIE result:
"It may be stated that at no point In
his memorandum does Mr.. Renold carry
his proposed participatory functions Tor
the workers beyond the limits long prac-
tised by wise employers. with or with
! out trade union recognition and assis-
lance. Not on a single point does he
part with authority of ownership. Amer
| lean employers have gone even further
| than he without thought of sharing with
| their employees the powers involved In
ownership and direction. In New York.
for instance. the typographical union and
the printing employers association have
Joint committee of six members to
which a discharged employee may appeal
as against foreman or superintendent"
| Too Many Voices Involved.
| The much discussed report OF the
Whitley committee OF the British Ma
tional Reconstruction Committee en-
bodies, Mr.. Sullivan says, no recommen-
dalton whatever for putting wage earn
ers in charge of any authoritative part
| of business enterprise or suggests any
method in shop administration not
known to American workers in the me-
chanical trades
1T is the opinion of the writer" Mr.
Sullivan says later, that the stage now