Evening star., 1919-08-31

open to question. however. discus
| sion Of the filling Of any vacancy by
management and workers Mr.. Renold
Goes not think that workmen should
| choose their own foremen. and a
still moro doubtful point, he feels.
is education in general business
questions"
Owners Authority Intact.
1t may be stated that at no point
in his memorandum does Mr. Renold
carry his proposed participatory func-
. tions for the workers beyond the
limits long practiced by wise employ
recognition and assistance. Not on a
single point does he part with author
ity Of ownership. American employ
ers have gone farther than he with
out thought of sharing with their
employees the powers involved in own
ership and direction.
In New York, for instance, the Typo
graphical Union and the printing en-
ployers' association have joint COM
mittee Of six members to which a dis
against foreman or superintendent
In John d. Rockefeller. jr.'s. I'm
dustrial Constitution" for the Colo
RADIO Fuel and Iron Company 1t is
FIONIoCQ lH6t SnPlOyeS AT 6dCH Oh
the mining camps shall annually elect
from among their number representa-
tfves to act on their behalf with re-
spect to matters pertaining to their
employment, working and living con-
ditions. the adjustment of differences.
and such other matters Of mutual
concern and interest as relations
within the industry may determine"
In neither of these instances Is CON
troll by the workers over the policy
n NJ -
ciple contemplated 1t relates, rather.
to negotiations with equals in the
labor market. Mr.. Renold's sole OBJ
ject seems to be. when anaIyxed. the
instruction Of the unqualified in proc
esses Of production.
The third lift on the way to work
ers. self-government" in Great Brit
ain is promised to the hopeful in
effective the report of the Whitley
committee"
History of Whitley Committee.
A word Of explanation is necessary
here with regard to the Whitley COM
mittee, whose exact designation was
the subcommittee on relations be-
the national reconstruction commit
tee. 1t was appointed ins1916, and on
July 1. 1918. made its final report.
Briefly. 1t recommended the creation
VI JOiut OOu1cS lOI purposes Oh con-
sultation and decision Of matters Of
common interest" These voluntary
joint bodies. representative Of en-
ployers and employees. were three
fold: (D works Committees: (2) local
district councils: (O joint standing
industrial councils. The last named
were ito consider conditions for an
industry as whole" the two others
for shops and localities. respectively.
Three strata Of wage-workers in
M ant to Va.
progressively paternal hand in assisting
to form the councils were: The occupa-
tons in which trade unions were strong:
those in which they were but partly or
ganized, and those in which nom
unionists were mostly employed. In
this process of committee and coun-
Gil organization the ministry of Ia
Dor would make suggestions to both
parties, giving general assistance in
establishing councils, drafting consti-
tutions. and issuing relevant mat
ter" besides itself forming an off,
cial liaison in connection with every
council"
Let it be affirmed at once that the
Whitley report embodies no recon-
mendation whatever of putting wage
workers in charge of any authorita-
tive part of business enterprise. It
does not suggest any method in shop
can workers of the mechanical trades.
The main principle advocated is
granting to work people a greater
share in matters affecting their in
dustry." Any ambiguity in the words
their industry" is cleared away in
the subparagraphs particularizinE the
committees recommendations. These
recognize wages. hours and condi-
tions of labor as proper subjects of
negotiation and legislation. In the
report referehce is made to such ques-
tions as security OF earnings and en-
ployment. TECHNICAL education, indus
trial research. rewards for inventions,
etc. which pass somewhat beyond or
dinary shop agreements. They do not,
however. go beyond demands often
discussed by trade unionists, or
methods followed by advanced en-
ployers. or rights exercised by work
| efs individually.