The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-08
ETHICS OF STRIKE sErIIEAENTs

HE WAR developed national procedure to prevent
 and settle strikes Before the the principle of col eotve bargaining had urged for but had not been received by employers and among workers themselves loosely received for often workmen left their em ploment without organization and without clear idea of how negotiations would be carried
 The necessities made imperative that differences shoad be settled speedily otherwise production would be d unfinished and American victory might be delayed.
 In the attempt to make speedy settlements two facts were established.
 That 1t was easier to deal with the men through their or ganixations.
 That it impossible promptly and intelgenty with unorganized men,
 ciple upon which would preferring to bargain through the established labor organizations where any existed and existed through committees raised by the for the purposes of the occasion.
 The government tried, notably in Bridgeport, to create shop committees through which the fricons that constantly in industrial life might be immediately adjusted in such way to bring justice down to the very individual.
 Had the continued for longer period the method of shop might gained permanent odgment The ending suddenly employers former methods that is to employers, convnc ed that the best way disputes by collective bargaining preferably through the organization to which the workers belong
 Other employers clung to a dispute matter between the employer and the individual workman and refused to deal in any other way.
 In Bridgeport these methods exempIified actively and through the agents chosen by them Other e poyers have returned to the theory of settlement with each individual employe.
 will appear when the present controversy is that the first method has been productive of speedy results and results in the whole satisfactory.
 Some groups of employees have gone strike without presenting their demands, and without consulting their conflict social methods is like conflict between rival machines, in the long the best machine prevails.
 President Wilson in his to Congress regarding the railroad suaon lays down precedent which perhaps will be final
 "The question of the wages of railroad shopmen submitted, you remember, of Railroad Wages and Working Condition of the Railroad Admins- ation last February, but not reported by the board until the sixteenth of July
 "The delay was unavoidable continuously engaged in dealing with several mat affecting employees previously
 'The board having appraised of this inability, at any rate being agree upon Hon clearly duty proceed with the hope of disposing of it.
 "You therefore authorized say the railroad shop employees question wages they cd will up and considered it's merits by the Director General in conference with their duly accredited
 T hope that you will mako 1t clear to the men con- eed tat the railroad Administration cannot deal With problems with any problems affecting the
 except through the duly chosen international offc the regularly constituted organization and their thOrzed committees.
 Matters of . anda affecting so mary
 dealt with except in this way. Any aco, which brings authority of the authorized representa- organization into question discedits must with if prevent action altogether The chief o a decision has been created by the them
 ',Itey have gone out on repudiated
 to4ty their officers at the moment when they wese urging fin regard to various interests.
 right beyond question It is conceded by lt
 The right may exercised in orderly, in a derly be exercised by whina, or it fol- result of considered acon under lawful authority after ordinary means have failed
 Strikes costly to employers and employed and to society they ought to be avoided long possible Like war; strike is a remedy of last resort.
 The demands of the shop workers the they to their dues in obedience to their psor officers of their unons whom they have themselves Nchosen- T The government, through Railroad Director Hnes ydsal spirit fairness and by regular methods any ' matters the may bring to their attention"
 By what other program than this the President could people be saved from tho disaster paai lroadi