Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-22

tended that the employer should re-
tain the right to deal or not to deal,
as he chose. with representatives OF
labor coming from outside Of his plant
or establishment
In defense of their own position la
Dor members argued that the phrase
land other organizations" gave sane
ton not only to the L. w. w, but MADE
legitimate the so-called company
union" organized by the employer and
dictated and formed to suit his own
particular needs. They insisted, too.
that employers could hinder and have
been hindering the organizing or trace
unions by coercing the men into sign
ing contracts and pledges entotnins
them against membership in trade
unions.
What Conference Has Shown.
On the face of IT the situation might
seem irreconcilable. but the conference
has revealed really what is IN the
back of the minds OF capital ana LABOR
and the Interesting and important
thing is to locate as definitely as pos
sible for the benefit of the pubhc GER
orally just where the responsibility
for disagreement hes
Moreover. by further discussion tnete
is always "A chance that public opinion
viii faSten itself on the sources OF
misunderstanding and compel the ac-
ceptance of suggested remeuies. ro'
instance as the resolution STANDS tsn-
tative agreement might be given IL Wy
labor and also by capital with the un,
Outstanding that other resolutions VIII
be drawn up, defining what other OF
canizations" really means. now Shop
councils are to be organized, now thss
are TO be kept free from dictatioii Wy
employers on the one hand or py ou'
Sidn emnloves or labor officials on the
other hand, so as to enable workinen
! in a fair and free election 10 say yuss
whom they wish to represent them an"
what method they desire TOT INC NJ
tustment of their disputes.
Many proposals have peen ii@ gu
which would provide machinery LOT
the settlement of disputes by shop
councils. wherein employer ana en-
ploye meet through chosen rePre,
sentatives. and then. in the event y,
disagreement. outside officials wouid
be brought in both on the saoe OF inc
employers and the nployes- but 10
all such schemes thus FAR union iaooi
! is shaking its head. giving the I'm
preston that trade unionism or noth :
| ing is their slogan. And the employ
| ers honestly believe they are not eA
pressing merely their own point OF
view but that of the public gener-
| ally in doing all In their power 10
! prevent the growth in the tniteo
States of a single trade union Whicn'
under misguided and radical leader
Ship could. If il chose, upset the ex-
| listing political system of the united
states Unless the American Fedora
| ton of Labor is willing to test inc
merits of it's own prestige and advan-
tages to workmen by giving labor an
opportunity to belong to whatever
organiza ton it pleases, and unless
| capital is willing to deal Win wnat-
ever organization the men themselves
choose. industrial warfare is inevita-
| BILE. To these two extreme positions
| is the whole conference still address
! ed, and the only hope now Is that by
separate committees and a recess a
complete program may be offered COW
ering all phases OF industrial rela-
tions, so complete and fair that nei-
Their capital nor labor can take the re-
sponsibility for its rejection.
Copyright. 1919