The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-06
HARDING OPPOSES
UNION DOMINATION
IN LABOR SPEECH
"GospeI of Understanding
and War on Class Control
,of Business Or Government
Voiced by G. 0. P. Uominee.

MARION, O.. Sept. 6--preaching a
gospel Of understanding between en-
ployes and employers, Senator Haruihk
said In a Labor day speech here that
although he believed in unionism ana
ccmectlva bargaining he opposed labor :
domination of business or government
as detarmin IDLY as he would oppose
domination by any other class.
Voluntary arbitration was declared BY
the Republican nominee 10 be the ideal
solution OF labor troubles. and he ad-
yocated Joint committees Of employees
and employers not 10 run the bust
ness" but to promote mutual under,
standing He asserted that no one couid
deny laborer the right to qult ms
employment. but that adjustment OF
labor promlems should be on the oasis
OF justice TO everyone.
Senator Harding also Endorsed the
Cummings Esch law restoring the rail
ways to private operation, and said ne
could not approve OF the socialist
plan," which proposed that the prop
critics be placed under control oil the
employees.
Citing his own experiences as an EN-.
ployer the candidate said he never had
any trouble with his employees in MS
newspaper establishment and added tina,
although print paper prices nad IN,
creased his expenses by an amount oqua
TO $500 for each worker In his plant
nanclaily on account of II.
In the course Of his speech he also
assaied proflteering, declaring that
stage ASS ults" without action had dis
credited the policy OF the Democratic
administration toward the profiteer
Il have not come to you today with
q speech of promises" said Senator
Harding Il do not pledge you the I'm .
possible, and | do not mean to suggest
the impracticablc can only preach
the gospel OF understanding practically
replied.
Believes in Unionism.
II believe in unlonism. believe in
collective bargaining. ! believe the two
have combined to speed labor toward
its just rewards, But ! do not believe
IN labors domination OF business OF
government any more than | believe
that capital snail dominate. We do not
want to substitute enc class for another
we want TO put an end to classes
I'VE live in an era of collective en-
6eavor Capital led the way and la
boris organization was not only natura'
but necessary. II has done more than
serve its membership, II has riveted
the thoughtful attention OF America to
social justice and brought the fruits
thereof
ION this always significant holiday
! wanted TO look you In the face and
old falsehood about dollar a day be-
ing enough for any working man. II
the author was seeking to apply 1t to
me, ! think he must have meant dol
lar an hour, You see ! have been n
dweller among YOU for SIS years. Part
of that time | was a wage Garner my
self . all the time | have been a
laborer and fox more than 80
years ! have been an employer as well
as laborer. and man can't preach one
doctrine and practice another.
let me renew that public utterance
In which ! spoke OF high wages, and
said | wished the existing high scale
TO remain, on one explicit condition
that for the high wage. the Ameri-
can workman shall give to his task
the highest degree Of efficiency. | am
not advocating the driving sIavish pc
Rod Of toll, which saps mans energies.
but ] hold that the Stacker, the loafer
on the job, is not only the greatest
obstacle TO labor's advancement but he
Is cheating his fellows more than he
does his employer
1T is utterly false to assume that
labor and capital are In deadly conflict
j Is not important to establish which
element comes first, since each Is es-
sential TO the other We do know that
labor, the human element is OF deep
est public concern. The deplorable side
of modern industry Is that too many
iHtH aEt Abllint The IldHUlntS AT Work
Men ought to know pride in the thing
done. The big inspiration In life is to
get on, When men tell you this Is
the privilege of the few they challenge
your intelligence.
Sorry Contact Gone.
Il am sorry the old, intimate con-
tact between employer and employee is
gone. | wish We could have the In
timacy restored. not in the old way
but through a joint committee uf en-
ployers and employees. not to run the
business, but to promote and maintain
the mutually Of interest and the full
est understanding. Herein lies the
surest remedy for most OF our Ills
I'VE can not have compulsory arbi-
tration, because all parties must consent
to establish arbitration and enforce its
conclusions. think we can have and
ought to have, yolitional arbitration.
The best thought Of the day Commends
this way to settlement.
THE wage scale which contemplates
rental cost in one place might be
wholly inadequate 10 meet the cost in
another, and natonalizCd scale would
work an injustice. This point was de
Neloped IN the recent railway Contro-
versies.
"This brings me to the subject OF
railway legislation and the enactment
OF the Cummlns- EsCh bill restoring the
railways to the lawful owners We
owed II 40 the railway owners to re-
store their property seized for war
service, just as we owe the return OF
the peoples money invested in govern
ment loans. In free and thoughtful
America we do not take advantage Of
wars tumult TO change the regular or
der of things. | am well aware that
many earnest railway workers and ad-
vocates OF the socialist plan preferred
TO take the railroads and put them TN
der the operation of the employees. but
that was not keeping faith with America
or American promises, We were honor
bound to make the return" -
Gums NAN An "a ur,Y