Americus times-recorder., 1920-06-07
Bv FREDERICK nj. KERRY.
N. E. A. Staff CORRESPONDENT.

L.
MONTREAL, Canada, June T.
Labor will produce more in exact
proportion as it receives recognition
In the joint management of industry
if increased production is to mean
more for the workers, increased
production can be had: on no other
terms can it be had.
That is the basic proposal put UP
by the American Federation of Labor
at the opening of its fortieth annual
convention here today. 1t is the
platform that will be adopted unaEi-
mously before the convention ad
journs.
Labor will produce if it gets its
share of the product; not otherwise
Such is the ultimatum.
Industry today requires great
er democracy in order to give to
the workers full voice in assisting
in its direction.
1T requires more intelligent
management and acceptance of the
principle that production is for use
and not for profit alone.
at requires full and free ac-
ceptance and use of the best that
invention has to offer.
''It requires bold and audioua
H. reconstruction of method and pro-
aWcess in the conduct of basic indus
tries.
Labor does not oppose introduc-
tion of improved methods in indus
try. 1t courts and encourages
improvements in processes and In
machinery. What it will always
resist is the introduction of these
processes and this machinery at
the expense of the workers.
Adoption of the principle of
voluntary effort, of full co-opera-
ton in industry, will bring to the
industrial life of the nation such
an impetus that production will
cease forever to be problem in
American life."
That is organized labor's answer
to the charge that labor has been
slowing up production. That is its
program for increasing production.
''We urge" say the big chiefs of
labor, 'the setting up of conference
boards of organized workers and en-
ployers, Thoroughly voluntary in char
acter and in thorough accord with our
trade union organization, as means
of promoting the democracy OF In
dustry through development OF CO.
operative effort. We point out tC
employers the fact that industry,
which is the life blood of our civlll-
cation can not be made the play
thing and the pawn of a few who
by chance today hold control. In
dustry is the thing by which all must
live and it must be given the oppor-
tunitv to function at its best"
The federation convention thus
throws down its challenge to the
owners of industry. Backed by A.
100000 members, the A. F. of l.. to-
day declared through its executive
committee that:
There can be no progress
and no gain in production
volume if there is not such consld-
Grafton"
There can only be an increase II
production, say these assembled la
bor men, provided the means to in
crease it "do not penalize the worker
for his own industriousness and fol
MS OWN dlCILISSo anu AAANNAA1A SAA~Ss
"I,abor turnover" says the fed
Grafton, sis but one of the evils
which will disappear in proportion as
the workers are given voice in man
agement. This is proven by status
tics which show the lowest turnover
in those industries where the work
ers exercise the most effective voice
by reason of the highest degree OF
organization.
.dustrv We propose the mean:
bghereby the world may be fed anc
clothed and housed and given happl
ness. We have service to give anc
if permitted to give freely and OF
terms of manhood and equality We
will give in abundance. We can not
be driven as slaves, but &Te can give
mighty service in a common effort OF
humankind"