The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-11-05
Thinks Neither Employer or Striker
Should be sympathized with
Until Rights Are Proven


tally involved in every controversy
between an employer and his employ
ees. Whether the dispute be between
a small emploer and few employ
ees who realize that they can halt the
industry of a nation there is ten
dency on the part of the general pub
lie 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 deserving 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 every
industrial field.
This sentimental attitude of the
public is a relic of an almost forgot
ten period of industrial history when
the Cmploye was to "a considerable
extent at the mercy Of his employer.
In those days, the individual employ
er could treat his employees almost
as he wished, suiting his actions only
to his conscience and the meager la
bcr laws of the day Some employers,
unenviable regulations for injustice
toward their employees, who were for
the most part unorganized, uneducat-
ed and unaware of Their latent power
The first efforts Of these employees
TO gain larger share in the prosper
ity Of the country won for them the
sympathy that the neutral public is
always read to bestow on the under
dog"
Although the "Under Dog" has long
since grown to mastiff size, he still
receives the indulgent sympathy of a
sentimental public that continues to
look upon him as helpless puppy.
When the employee organized and
tasted the sweetness of a long sue
cession of victories, he was quick to
recognize 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
Importance of propaganda in public
affairs and has probably done nc more
than was right But the people who
still take sentimental view of labor
disputes, who presume that every
strike is called for just purpose and
that the employee is a person whose
every 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 employ
ee has changed greatly in recent
years.
The history of recent industrial de-
velopements almost warrants the as
serticn that the relation between these
two important members of society
has been reserved and that the en-
ployer is today at the mercy of his
employee. The chief reason that the
employee has attained his present
power of an older generation, unable
to see justice in the demands made
upon him by his workman often treat
ed his weaker antagonist with incOn-
sideration or contempt. Public opin-
ion stepped in and took the side of the
employee, aiding him to victory. Now
the employee wishes to treat his en-
ployer as he was once treated, not
realizing that such course of action
will inevitably turn public opinion
from sympathy to avowed disapproval
The employee is in danger of destroy
ing enc of the chief sources of his
power and of turning his strongest
ally into an opponent.
1t would be unfortunate if public
opinion ever reached the stage where
it always adjudged either side wholly
right or wholly wrong. The just at
titude for the public to take would be
to recognize the fact that the rela-
tons of employer and employee are
very much the same as the relations
between buyer and seller. Each tries
to safeguard his own interests and
each sometimes overreaches in trying
to get the best of bargain. They
are on the same place, contending in
wholly unsentimental manner, not
necessarily for rights, but for advan-
tages and privileges. Sometimes enc
is right, sometimes the other; but it
is seldom correct to presume that
either party to labor controversy
is wholly right or wholly wrong until
the facts in the individual case are
carefully studied and accurately
weighed.
The public should recognize the fact
that the employee is at least as well
equipped to get what he demands as
is his employer, and it should with
hold sympathy from either side in any
specific dispute until it has had full
opportunity to compare the merits of
the rival claims; it should recognize
the fact that the whole controversy
is nothing more nor less than BUSH
ness proposition an effort at collective
bargaining in which as high a price
as pssible is sought for labor that is
already at a high premium Above
all, blind emotion should not be allow
ed to displace reason. 1t is as absurd
for instance, to become sentimental
over a demand for a twelve dollar day
as it would be to weep when the corner
grocer balks at jobber's demand for
seventy per cent profit on shipment
of potatoes.
In weighing the arguments for or
against any strike, consideration
should be given to general principles
as well as specific motives. Just now
| it is universally recognized that the
one great need Of the nation is pro-
duction and more production to make
up for the tremendous waste Of war