New-York tribune., 1920-04-19
Hoouer's Labor Views
Neither Radical Nor Rcactionary
II Is Declared

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have heard number of socia
workers and others interested in labo,
conditions say recently that Hoover is
not fit to be President because he is "s
reactionary" toward labor. | wonder
how many Of them know what Hoover's
ideas on labor really are! Unfortu-
nately, he is man not given to pub
fishing his ideas unless he is asked
for them. But few quotations from
his speech to the Boston Chamber of
Commerce on March "a, 1920, in re-
gard to the report Of the Industrial
Conference may be illuminating. He
says:
ut cannot be denied that unrest in
our industrial community is charac-
terzed more than ever before by the
purposes and desires that go beyond
the demand for higher wages and
shorter hours. The aspirations inher-
ent in this form of restlessness are to
a great extent psychological and in
tangible. They are not for this rea-
son any less Significant They
reveal q desire on the part Of the
workers to exert a larger and more
organic influence in the processes of
industrial life. They want better as
surance that they receive just pro-
portion Of their share Of production.
NO one denies the right Of the in
dividual to cease work. The question
involved in this form Of legislation
(Kansas act) is the right to combina-
tion in common action by strike. What
ever the right may be the
belief in the right of strike and lock-
out has become imbedded in the minds
Of the laboring community of the world
to an extent that they will not receive
with confidence any alternative in
driving their own bargains.
The NndustriaD Conference plan
is fundamentally the promotion of col
lective bargaining under fair condi-
tlons OF representation by both sides
and the definite organization of pub
lilo opinion only as a pressure on the
parties at conflict to secure it, It is.
therefore, basically not a plan of arbi
tration, nor is it an industrial court.
1t is stimulation to self-government ip
industry.
IN my own experience in industry
l have always found that a frank and
friendly acceptance of the unions
agreements, while still maintaining the
open shop, had led to constructive re-
lationships md mutual interest.
There is but little conflict of view
as to the principle of collective bar
gaining and its vital corolary, fidelity
to the bargain made"
In another speech he said:
"A maximum production can only be
obtained under conditions that protect
and stimulate the physical and intel
lectual welbeing of the producer.
I'VE have until recently neglected
the human factor that is so large an
element in our very productivity.
II am daily impressed with the fact
that there is but one way out, and that
Is again to rcestablish through or
ganlzed representation that personal
cooperation between employer and en-
pioyee in production that was q bind
ing force when our industries were
OF unit. The attitude
OF refusal to participate in collective
bargaining with representatives of the
own choosing is the mega
ton of this bridge to better relation
ships"
admit that Mr.. Hoover in his labor
theories is not radical. But does anv
one expect radical to be elected Presi-
dent Of these United States?
HELEN DWIGHT FISHER.
Bro0k1vn Anr;l TX 1ooo