The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-10-17
COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING
Cleveland Manu- 5 rer Ex-
plains Why III pported
Resolution ndus-
trial Coz nee.
HE GAVE A TRIAL
Time Has Pass hen Small Things
Should be Quibbled over
With Bigger Ones at
Stake.

United PreSS Leased Wire Service
1.-THE United Press asked Paul l.
Feiss, Cleveland manufacturer and
big employer Of men, to explain his
reasons for supporting the collective
bargaining resolution before the ma
tional industrial conference Most OF
the big employers opposed 1t. Feiss
, member Of the public group. and
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., spoke In
favor OF 1t. Feiss, in the following
article, declares his faith in collec-
tive bargaining is based on expert
ence, and not on theoryJ
[By Paul L. Feiss. Written for The
United Press.]
WASHINGTON, Oct. Ill am in
favor OF collective bargaining because
we have tried it out successfully in
the business organization with which
am associated While we have not
union shop, we have an organiza-
tion of our employees which gives
them an opportunity not only to par
ticipate and assist in the determine
ton of all matters relating to wages,
hours and other conditions of en-
ployment, but 1t has given them also
the opportunity to assume more
definite obligation and responsibility
to their own work and business in
which they are working
My belief in this resolution and in
the efficacy Of this plan, is based,
therefore, not upon theory, but ex.
perience. 1t seems to me that the
time has long passed when we can
quibble about small things when
great principles are at stake. The
important thing is that we recognize
that If democracy means anything in
industry or in any other element Of
Efe, 1t means the right of personal
determination of those things which
it is right that we should determine
for ourselves. The obedience to law
is liberty, and that means not only
the law Of the land, but the law of
morality and the principles Of ethics.
could not conscientiously face my
associates in business-and by that
I mean the men who run the works,
who toll at the machines, and the
women who work with their hands.
any more than / could have faced
my fellow citizens If denied them
a right which l myself possess.
l not only support the resolution in
still further and urged every en-
ployer to assist in organizing mis-
men so that they might have a CO.
herent and collective voice in the de-
termination of conditions of employ
ment in which they must always be
interested. With sthe modifying phrase
which has been added to the first
clause, the right of the individual to
;va 1Of IN ,srn to oh
his method Of organizing, whether
through labor unions, shop unions.
employers organizations, or any 9TH
er, 1t seems to me it is safeguarded.
don't know what has been in the
minds of the labor union represen-
they have made
great sacrifice in making that con-
cession or not. do not know what
is in the mind of the employers in
opposing 1t, but 1t seems to me that
we have the basis Of an understand
ing, and as good citizens, and all Of
us representing the public, we should
get together and accomplish this end
by supporting this resolution unani-
mously.
Likely to be Endorsed.
by Ralph F. Couch. United Press
Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct 17.-Recogni-
tion of the right of collective bargain
ing seemed likely to be indorsed as
the basiesprinciple Of the nations fu-
ture code Of industrial relations today
as delegates assembled for the morn.
ing session of the national industrial
conference.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and other
employers in the group Of delegates
the public are on record
as favoring recognition of the rights
Of workers to organize as defined in a
resolution now before the conference.
sitting in the group OF dele
gates representing capital are fighting
against Endorsement of the principle.
This group includes seventeen en-
ployers, bankers and farmers. BY its
vote the group can defeat the princi-
pie in the conference.
But two groups, labor and the pub
CONTINUED on page 2,l