The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-11-14
ARE WE REALLY
PROGRESSING?

towards the Miners strike, togeth-
or with the attitude taken by the
Presidents Industrial Conference
relative to the question of collec-
tive bargaining. \ comparison be-
tween the attitude taken by SINH
lar conference in Great Britain, in
8Canada. and that taken by a SINH
lar conference II years ago under
President Mckinley, therefore be-
comes timely,
The resolution over which the
late Industrial Conference at Wash
"A ington dissolved, reads as follows:
II "The right of wage earners
and labor unions, to bargain
collectively, to be represented
by representatives of their own
u choosing in negotiations and
adjustments with employers
and in respect to wages, hours
of labor and rules and ~condf-
tions of employment is recog-
q nized.
"This must not be understood
as limiting the right of any
wage Garner to refrain from
Joining any organization or to
deal directly with his employer
If he so chooses"
Note the striking difference be-
tween it and the one adopted II
years ago during the Mckinley ad
ministration, and which reads as
II follows:
Il "The right to be employed
and protected without belong
ing to a union should be pre-
served; but every facility
should be given labor to or
ganize If it desires and the last
vestige of the notion that trade
unions are criminal conspir-
acy should be swept away"
Note the last paragraph of this
declaration: but every facility
should be given labor to organize
if it desires and the last vestige of
the notion that trade unions are
criminal conspiracy should be swept
away" This was the attitude TAX
en- and accepted by the Nation IT
years ago Yet, we find at this late
date, the attitude of the Steel
Trust in refusing to recognize this
right, sustained by a large portion
of the press of the Nation and a con-
siderable portion of Public Opinion,
together with a decision just rem
dered by Judge Anderson at In
dianapolis, that in substance de-
clares the Miners Union to be a
criminal conspiracy. This compari-
son alone would be sufficient to war
rant the seething unrest and dis
satisfaction existing now in the
ranks of Labor.
Note again the declaration of the
Industrial Conference at Westmins-
ter, England, on April A, of this
year. 1t follows:
"The basis of negotiations
between employers and work
people should, as is presently
the case in the chief industries
of the country, be the full
frank acceptance of the en-
ployers' organizations on the
one hand and trade unions on
the other as the recognized or
ganizations to speak and act on
behalf of their members"
The Canadian conference held
about the same time, made this
declaration:
On the whole we believe the
day was passed when an en-
ployer should deny his employ
ees the right to organize. En-
ployers claim that right for
themselves and 1t is not denied
by the workers. There seems
to be no reason why the en-
ployer should deny like rights
to those who are employed by
him.
Not only should employees
be accorded the right of organ
izing, but the prudent employer
will recognize such organiza-
tion and will deal with duly ac-
credited representatives there
of in all matters relating to the
interests of the employees when
1t is fairly established to be
representative of them all.
There is striking contrast be-
tween the declarations of the Brit