The Topeka state journal., 1919-10-27
A SITUATION REVERSED.


There is a great deal of sentimen-
tality involved in every controversy
between an employer and his en-
| ployes, writes N. F. Hoggson, of Hogg-
son Bros, New York and Chicago.
Whether the dispute be between a
small employer and few poorly paid
workmen or a public service corpor-
alton and a body of highly paid expert
employees who realize that they can
halt the industry of a nation, there is a
tendency on the part of the general
public to presume in every instance
that the men who are demanding
higher wages or shorter hours are, in
the very nature of things, justified in
their demands and therefore deserv-
ing of public sympathy and support.
Such support, given without question
and without inquiry, is probably one
of the chief factors in bringing about
the success of numerous strikes in ev-
cry Industrial field.
This sentimental attitude of the
public, continues the writer, is relic
of an almost forgotten period of in
dustrIal history when the employe was
to a considerable extent at the mercy
of his employer. In those days, the
individual employer could treat his
employees almost as he wished, suit
ing his actions only to his conscience
and the meager labor laws of the day
Some employers. less scrupulous than
others, earned unenviable regulations
for injustice toward their employees
who were for the most part morgan
lied, uneducated and unaware of their
latent power. The first efforts of these
employees to gain larger share in the
prosperity of the country won for
them the sympathy that the neutral
public is always ready to bestow on
the under dog"
Altho the under dog" has long
since grown to mastiff size, he still
receives the indulgent sympathy of a
sentimental public that continues to
When the employe organized and
tasted the sweetness of long success
sion of victories, he was quick to rec
ognize the value of public opinion and
did all he could to keep alive every
spark of sympathy for his cause. In
these efforts, he has merely been
among the first to appreciate the i'm
portance of propaganda in public af-
fairs and has probably done no more
than was right. But the people who
still take a sentimental view of labor
disputes, who presume that every
strike is called for a just purpose and
that the employe is a person whose ev
cry demand should be granted what
ever the reason and whatever the cost,
do not apparently realize that the re-
lation of the employer and the em-
ploye has changed greatly in recent
years.
The history of recent Industrial de-
velopments almost warrants the as
sertion that the relation between these
two important members of society has
been reversed, says Mr.. Hoggson, and
that the employer is today at the
mercy of his employe. The chief rea-
son that the employe has attained his
present power is that the employer
justice in the demands made upon
him by his workmen. often treated his
weaker antagonist with inconsidera-
ton or contempt. Public opinion
stepped in and took the side of the
employe, aiding him to victory. Now
the emp1oye wishes to treat his en-
ployer as he was once treated, not
realizing that such a course of action
will inevitably turn public opinion
from sympathy to avowed disapproval
The employe is in danger of destroy
ing one of the chief sources of his
power and of turning his strongest ally
into an opponent.