Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-30
EMPLOYERS FAVOR.
TRADE SCHOOL
AS Best Means of Overcomin 6
Present Day Shortage
of Labor.

Establishment OF trade school was the
most important project taken up at the
annual meeting OF the Wilmington LIN
ployers Association last night In the Hote
du Pont Joseph :. Hamilton, the retir'
ing president, advocated such schoo
as the best means Of overcoming the
shortage Of skilled labor which he con
sidered the greatest difficulty of the en-
pIover today and the reason for the as
ccndancy of radicals In the councils ol
organized labor.
Harry Speakman of the Speakman
Company gave an outline of the pro-
posed school, and Harry Mellon, presi-
dent of the Master Plumbers Associa-
ton, declared that it is the most vital
matter before the employers. G. ID. Garrett
son, president of the Manufacturers
Association urged that it be begun at
once.
Officers were elected as follows:
Harry S. Lynch, president. Frank
Overdeer and Robert Glover, vlee-presl-
dents; 7. G. Taylor, treasurer; James f.
Stein, secretary; Harry j. Bell, assistant
secretary, and the following council:
James p. Robbins, Williams Shlnn, VIII
liam A. Mode, A. Z. Nuetze, L. ".
Brosius, Joseph S. Hamilton, William @.
Robelen and Samuel Nj. Dillon.
Thomas Armstrong, president OF the
Armstrong-Conkllng Terra Gotta Con-
pany of Philadelphia, spoke on co-opera-
tlon between employer and employe.
Earl Constantine, field secretary oil the
National industrial Council. reviewed
the growth of employers associations IN
the last FIVE wears. During this time they
have trebled in membership, and are now
represented in % states. MIR. Constantine
advocated the american plan of en-
plovment as opposed to the closed shop.
Mr. Hamilton $ report in full is as
follows:
Another year has passed in the history
of our association, 1t has been ono of
anxiety, strain and unrest for both cm-
ployer and employe.
''The employer has faced an uncertainty
IN regard to the cost of labor and material.
There has been a shortage of both which
has greatly delayed the completion Of our
contracts which always mean additional
cost.
at was our hope after the war that our
economic system would be built around
the then seemingly high wages, and that
the cost of producing the needs of the land
could be reduced by more efficiency,
brought about by more careful organlza-
ton, better-co-opera ton between em-
ployer and employe.
"The necessities of war were such
drain upon the man-power of the business
organizations of our land that they were
far below even normal efficiency when it
closed.
Labor has been scarce, especially
skilled labor; the building trades pos
slbl, suffering the worst, as building IS
largely hand work, and not machine. as
in the manufacturing lines, and requires
trained and experienced men. There
has been big short tage of this type of
worsmen.
SEES RADICALS AT WORK.
'T'he radical element that seems to be
leading the organized labor today has
made capital of this condition, and has
made demand after demand for higher
wages which has usually been granted
with little compromise only TO be passed
on to the cosumer, greatly increased by
the uncertainty of the cost of labor, ma
terial, taxes, etc.
Il do not want to be understood as
considering labor alone responsible for
the high costs of today, but that all 9th ers
are equally responsible with them.
Just when thecondition viii be bettered
| do not know, but believe It will not be
until it is ac complished by natural forces,
which / believe are of work now
when the supply more nearly meets
the demand, when the people viii feel the
necessity of wearing their old clothes
little longer mot joining the Overall
Club eurtaiI a little on their d leasures.
when a job is a little harder to get, when
is little sharper. and the
business man feels that he must us e
his equipment Ii tile longer, in other
words, more efficient production and more
economy m our purchases, and an effort
to get a little ahead for a rainy day
The work OF : the association dur
ing the year has been to counsel and direct
the members in policy of fair dealing
and cooperation with their employees.
feeling that the closer the relationship
and the better the understanding between
The employer and the employe, the bet
ter all viii be satisfied. and the greater
the production, and I believe this object
has been accomplished.
81 viii not enumerate or attempt
TO detail the many problems that have
been considered by the association, all
of which has been handled In a broad
minded, liberal manner with due considera-
ton to employer, amploye and the public,
and trust these policies may be continued
10 q greater exten t.
NEED SKILLED woRKMEN-
'The greatest need today, as | have
already said is that of skilled workmen.
How can We increase the number is the |
pig question confronting us
"The old way of taking apprentices
or four-year term at small wage and
et him drop IN among your worlmen and,
rs it were, pick up the trade is past for
easons you all know.
IL We want more proficient worlsmen,
We must make it more interesting for
apprentices and take more interest in
hem. The term of four years is short
nough N the old way, but you could re-
luce to three years if apprentices were
.ra..a.cl