The sun., 1919-11-04


ada Is SIR John Wilson, h. B., LL.Di
president Of the Canadian Reconstr1tc-
ton Association, tchoso head Office Is IN
Toronto. He brings to a discussion OF
econ on,ic conditions q maturity Of Jld0-
men1, based upon the experience OF
years, that at once commands attention
for anything that he may say or ,ortte.
Born IN Huron county, Ont, sirty-
three years ago, his earlier years Were
passed IN newspaper york IN London,
Ont, and IN Toronto. IN 1918 nc Dds
appointed Canddidn correspondent OF
the London (En0.) "Times." He tcds
krt0hted In 1918, Is a FelloD OF the
Royal Society Of Canada, a Governor Of
Upper Canada College and a LID. and
trustee Of Queens University, Kingston.
Ont
He Is the author Of "The RdiliuGy
Question IN Canada" (1S97), lessons
From the Old World" (1S97), "Str VIII
trid Ldurior aud the Liberal Pdrty-A
Political History" (1903). "An0lo-SGron
AmityT (1906). United states and Can
ada" (190So, "The Neto Canada" (l912),
published by the "Ttmes," London, Eng
land; "Reminiscences, Political aud
PERSONAL (1y19).
by SIR JOHN wILLIsoN,
President Canadian Reconstruc-
ton Association, Toronto.
written Especially for the Canadian Sec
ton Of The Sun
After much Industrial unrest Canada
is facing the reconstruction period with
some assurance of harmonious relations
between capital and labor. There is
little now to be feared from the One Big
Union movement and less from Bolshev-
list influences As result of their &C
tivities, which eliminated in the pro-
tracted sympathetic strike in Winnipeg
and lesser outbreaks in Toronto and
elsewhere. the agents of revolution and
direct action have been discredited with
labor itself. At the annual meeting OF
the Canadian Trades and Labor Con-
gress, lately concluded at Hamilton,
radical leaders met with overwhelming
defeat and the One Big Union was con-
demned in a most positive manner.
Only one dissenting vote was recorded
against the report OF the executive that
1.-The futility of the One Big Union
methods should have been apparent
from the beginning, founded as it was
on force and intolerance of the chosen
leaders of the labor movement, repudi-
ating the organizations from which they
drew their financial and numerical
strength, preaching class hatred through
out the country and gambling their
whole future on the success of sympa-
thetic and national strikes"
At the industrial conference at OF
tawa a creator measure of agreement
was reached between employers and
employees than the country could have
expected. While there was disagree
ment on vital questions. valuable con-
cessions which should make for indus
| trial peace were granted by both sides.
Concessions by Both Sides.
Employers while BILE to concede to
| laooi's demand for an eight hour day.
agreed to the appointment of appropri-
| ate Government commissions to report
] upon the probable effect of such limita-
tion Of working hours in specific Cana
1 dian industries. They also admitted
| the right of employees to join any law
| ful organization, but contended that em-
ployers should not be required TO negoti-
ate except directly with their own en-
ployees or groups OF employees. and in
sisted on the right to maintain their
plants as open shops" Labor met the
| employers concessions by admitting that
entering into agreements and bargain
ing collectively with an association or
| union employees does not mean recogni-
| tion of the closed shop unless the agree
ment so provides
1t is of signal Importance that the
| present industrial peace should be main
| tained. Taking the average wage at SO
| day strikes have cost the workers
OF Canada over s44,s00.O00 in the last
| eighteen years and half. or an average
of approximately S2,425,O 900 year. A
revised summary of industrial disputes
| from January 1, 1901, to June 80, 1919
as issued by the Department of Labor at
| Ottawa, shows that there were 2,127 dis
| putes during the period, involving &C.,
235 employees, and that there was a
time loss of no less than 14,937.229 work
ing days. Between January 1 and June
| 30, 1919, there were 1s9 disputes, involv-
Ing 105O26 employees and a loss OF
| 2,l1s,37s working days During this
six months period the average wage
would not be .less than $3.50 a day at a
conservative estimate. SO that the none
| tary loss to the employees directly in
| volved was at least s7,500,000.
Scores OF millions of dollars would be
required to meet the indirect cost OF
| these strikes. In some cases, as in Win,
nipeg. there has been marked dislocatior
Of general Industrial life, loss of output
to factories affected by the disputes. loss