Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-15
Labor'S Platform

IT HE other day the group representing
L organized labor i'll the industrial con-
ference, a group which included four national
officers of the railroad brotherhoods, unani
mously agreed on series OF principles
which they called upon the conference to
accept rs the fundamentals upon which labor
will stand in all negotiations. Sixteen propo-
sitions were set forth
a survey of this platform must prove tre-
mendously reassuring to the American peo-
pie. There is not a word or line i'll it
demanding the "nationalizaton" Of indus
try. There is not word or line in it tending
to soviotizc the business Of this country.
There is not Il word or line in it dictated
by the l. w. WIS, the Bolshevsts or the
wreckcrs among the wld-eycd Socialists of
the country.
No sancr or more conservative program
could possibly be hoped for at the hands OF
organized labor. All that is urged in behalf
of the wage Garner is decent living. decent
environment, the cight-hour day, the right
10 organize and the right to bargain collect
lively. When boiled down that is literally
all that labor asks recognition OF by capital
and by the public, and there is certainly
nothing in that platform that need frighten
the American people.
If Mr.. Gompers and his associates had
gone into the conference with the proposition
that all American industry be Plumb
planned; il joint ownership and control had
been demanded il proft-sharing even had
been urged, feeling Of anxiety might have
been created and deadlock promised. But
these radical proposals arc not set forth by
labor at the present time. There may be
and undoubtedly is growing sentiment on
the part OF certain classes Of labor for direct
participation in the management of the
enterprises which the workers make profit
able. but there is nothing exactly revolution
airy about that. Hundreds OF individual en-
ployers have recognized the justice of such
a stand and have taken their employees into
the dictatorship of their corporations. Some
have gone even further and have established
proht-sharing plan.
But organized labor in comforting with
organized capital and with representatives
of the public asks for no recognition OF these
changes in the industrial system. For the
time being II stands solely on the right to
organize and TO bargain collectively and upon
few principles dealing with wages, hours
or labor and living conditions, 10 every one
OF which the country long ago practically
assented.
There is distinct ENCOURAGEMENT in the
moderation of labor in the present situation.
There is further reason TO place confidence
IN the labor leadership OF MT. Gompers and
MS immediate associates They have not been
stampeded into any radicalism by the clamor
Which they hear on all sides. They have not
sought to revolutionize their country over
night They have not arrayed themselves
against their government or against the pre-
vailins order in society
II is true that they oppose with vigor
compulsory arbitration, but that is not an
unnatural position TO take. Capital itself
opposed compulsory arbitration until very
short time ago, and the time is within the
recollection OF this generation when canital
opposed any arbitration at all in industrial
disputes.