The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-16
chicago BUSYING
ITSELF OVER BIG
LABOR PROBLEMS
Lawrence Finds Birthplace of
Bull Moose Party, Showing
UnmiStakabIe Signs of
Steps Against BolSheviSm.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
tFhe News Selmltar's Special Core.
s%pondent.)

tThe News SelmItar's Special CORE.
~spondent.l
CHICAGO, April 16.-Seven years ago
In this very city with its environment
OF big Industry, a group Of men and
women, christening themselves Pro-
gressives, wrote the Bull Moose plat
form Of social justice, The Bull Moose
party died, but its doctrines lived. and
today there is no more striking phase
OF this period Of transition 'twixt war
and peace than the movement among
employers at least to understand ana
ana!yze-f not always Immediately to
appiy-principles that many bring about
a characterization OF industry.
II Is too early to say whether the
ettort to anticipate trouble arises out
OF q fear Of something considered re-
mote, intangible-like the Bolshevlsm
Of foreign lands-or whether ii Is a
recognition simply Of the partnership
OF labor Anyway, employers are ask
!ng questions and trying experiments.
many who never heard OF the platform
81 the British labor party are asking
those who do know about 1t to come
ana lecture to them. Inquiries to CHI
eago businessNconcerns about their sys-
are multiplying.
The International Harvester company
mas a profit sharing scheme that Is
attracting nation wide attention. and
an organization plan which Is designed
70 give the workers all the advantages
Of trades unions without the so-cailed
disadvantages OF interference by out-
side organizations between employers
and their men, Some OF this the labor
leaders are wondering about, for II
tue manufacturers once give their EN-
ployes a share In the concerns profits
! and mn nN M so - 30 - a-A,--
and hours directly through regularly
chosen spokesman, some OF Ahe talking
points Of the union might disappear.
II Is this plan WHICH Samuel GorSners
Is supposed to have characterized as
q cheap imitation Of trades unionis -
Inc Harvester plan may, or may not
be meritorious, but there's an element
Of humor In the competition between
employers and union leaders, each
seeking to prove his system is more
beneficial tn the working man,
Progress Big Thing.
The big fact Is that the welfare 81.
being discussed only by settlement
workers and academicians, Boards OF
directors talk about ii and appoint
committees to hire experts and suggest
practical plans, Leaders Of both cap
ltal and labor are alert-not all Of
ehoJhi w oe sure, luT ness ana
SeItlshhess nave not departed from nU-
man nature as yet, Labor is conscious
OF Itself. Maybe Europe has encour-
aged it. Anyhow, the situation is Tar
from clear and fun Of Inconsistencies.
Those who believed the Federation OF
Labor was opposed to political oyganl-
Satlon as such find the leaders thereof
engaged IN forming the Illinois Labor
party, Chicago has at least 200. 900 Ia
porting men, yet only 81. 900 voted Tho
Labor party ticket In the city election
recently, And the Socialists are ac-
cnsed by some Of the labor leaders Of
Ealing to support the Labor ticket.
But the labor vote was not the July
thing that got in a tangle, Out Of 600
goo votes more than 400, 900 vera on 81
for five candidates-that Ia. against
William Hale Thompson-yet he vas
elected by a plurality of 1000. Some
body has figured It out that at least
enough to swing an election liko that
i seems pretty we'll agreed that MIR
Thompson rallied the dissatisfied
among them the pro- Germans of war
qays-tahd drew strength from both the
democratic and Republican parties.
But Chicago seems as illogical az
New York when II ome 10 choosing
mayors, and q city with more thar
100000 Germans In It is just as likely
as not to te-elect q man who refused
" receive MdTSUhI JOftre,
This Is an age OF surprises. though
not merely in politics. Just a few DAYS
age, for example, the Illinois Manufac-
turers association had a banquet, And
ny that banquet John Walker, former
vice. president Of the state Federation
81 Labot, was n guest and speaker,
Now there is no man in Illinois who has
Fought the manufacturers more bitterly
than walker. Yet he was invited 10 al
AZ the guest table and make a speech.
Such a thing would have been un-
l%ninkablG a few years ago But that
began laushinsly with the statement
that he had had "many scraps with
the members Of the association, hut
didn't come 80 scrap" this time, but
TO tell something that ought to be told
And he, proceeded to tell them with "A
applause repeatedly. Yes, the emnloy-
ers apnlauded him.
The incident itself is typical Of the
new spirit with which the age-old con
troversy between capital and labor ia
being approached Labor is demanding
20 say; Yes, we shall maintain the
high wage scale, but will you guarantees
us efficiency Of production?' Then the
responsibilities OF cooperative arrange
ments come into play.
Signs Are Seen.
The millennium between employer and
employee Is a long ways off, but Chicago
discloses many a align Of the times In
Its industrial affairs, many a sign OF
wanting to understand and Of wanting
70 remedy, which Is step farther ahead
than before, Bolshevism, to be sure,
as II is known abroad, hasn't put IN
any appearance here. Socialists and
radicals are. actively trying to accom-.
plish demands, many Of them extremes,
by political methods.
They may not eleSt their candidates
labor Ia far too u~HorganiEed for that
but they may prod and stimulate the
regular parties TO meet some OF these
demands, To keep Republicans and
Democrats from Joining the indepAnd-
political leaders throughout the state.
Competition for popular support at the
polls thus ensues, Even the most con-
sentative OF conservatives, while de-
ploring much Of the agitation, reluc.
family admits SOME benefit may be de-
rived from 1t, Labor. for instance, may
get representation IN the constitutional
convention soon TO be held.
rehabilitation has been faster thar
employment, but the situation here is
not serious, Every. day there Is evi-
wal department in demobillxing
through military eenters, rather than
through local draft boards. Many SOL
dlers who are needed on the farms
stay In the cities, Many decide to try
other kinds OF work. Jobs are beins
found at the rate of 100 a day, but aps
pltcants number an average OF 400.
Many positions would be available II
certain technical mon could be gotten
out OF the army at once to start pro-
cesses In which large numbers Of other
men would then be employed,
Conditions are far from normal. but
a man who has lived among working
people for % years and who under.
stands the relations OF capital and Ia.
Dor from an intimate yet impartial
viewpoint told me he had seer days
much moro nervous In the history OF
Chicago, and that while business was
naturally in some suspense due TO i'm.
~carfAlnflea over foreign trnde. nAnrf