The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-11-10
RIGHT OF LABOR
!. TO ORGANIZE
Recognized by Employers, but
Refusal to Deal With Stran-
gers Not Employees
CAUSED LABOR TO BOLT

Boston, Mass, Nov. 10.-tn an
official statement issued today the
National Industrial Conference
Board points out that the recent
Industrial Conference at Washing
ton t'split, not on the issue of col
Iective bargaining, the principle OF
which had been accepted by the
Employers Group, but on the issue
of so constituting collective bargain
ing that an employer could be forced
to recognize an outside labor un-
ion agent as the representative OF his
employees regardless of whether or
not be maintained an open shot"
The statement calls attention to
the fact that speakers from the
Employers Group said again and
again that they dio not deny the
right of wage earners to organize
and that they did not oppose the
principal of collective bargaining-
Moreover, ''at no time did represen-
tatives of labor unions not in his
employ or other outsiders, if he
The Employers Group, however,
insisted emphatically that mo en-
ployer should be coerced into bar
gaining collectively with his en-
ployees through an agent of labor
unions who is not one of his en-
ployees." They pointed out that
"such agent usually is not familiar
with the circumstances of the issue
and has primary interests other than
those of the employees whom he
| claims to represent; and, further
more, that usually he is not really
chosen by the employees but by the
labor union" The following excerpt
from the official record summarizes
on this point:
"The Employers Group regards
| it of vital Importance that the en-
ployers and employees in each indi-
vidual establishment should exer-
else every effort to settle between
themselves, all questions arising
in the employment relation without
| the Intervention of outsiders. Man
agement and men should regard
this as one of their prime privileges
and duties.'
+ I'm the final analysis the state
ment continues, "the stand taken
by the Employers Group was pred
icated on the maintenance of tn
open shop, which they regarded
a vital American principle anu
which they saw endangered by the
I type of collective bargaining insist
ed upon by the Labor Group"
! Various resolutions and quota
: tions are cited from the official
proceedings, indicating the position
of the Labor Group on the issue
of collective bargaining and also
: it's refusal to recognize the rights
!. of workers to joint associations othel
: than trade and labor unions In this
connection, the statement points out
, that the Labor Group voted against
a resolution recognizing the right
of workers to organize Gin associa-
l tions of their own choosing" and
also against another resolution rec
| ognizing their right to organize il
trade and labor unions 3'and Other
} other organizations" The officia
record is quoted as showing tha
i | two members of the Labor GrouI
had argued that the true construc
r tion of the original resolution, which
provided for oranizaton in trade ant
labor unions.
inhibited and prohibited tn,
5 idea that any other body than
trade or labor union could be meant
and that it was an invitation
going out from this Conference t
!. wage earners to join no other or
:. ganization except trade or labo
5 union.''
A resolution adopted by the Am
5 erican Federation of Labor at it
annual convention in Atlantic City
in June, 1919, is also given in whic
e the Federation "disapproved an
J., condemned shop Industrial coul
e, cils and ..al1 such company unions
, CONTINUED on mage Sfx1