The Washington herald., 1920-11-20

fOne OF the greatest CONNECTS
In the distance is that be-
ween the employer on one side
md organized labor on the other.
We hear great deal from extrem-
SITS on one side about the domina-
lon OF the employer. on the other
bout the domination OF organized
abor. The tendency TO domination
probably exists among EXTREMISTS
IN both sides.
rone OF the most pefplexing dim
suites in all discussion and action
n these problems Is to eliminate
this same extremist. There are
certain areas of conflict OF inter-
est. but there is between these |
groups a far greater area OF COM |
mon interest, and IL we can find
measures by which. through Coop
GRAFTON the field of common inter- |
est could be organized. then the area
1f conflict could be in the largest 4
degree eliminated.
Cites Fundamental Fact.
In this connection the employer
sometimes oyerlooks a 'fundamen- 4
tai fact In connection with organ
lied labor in the United States. This
Is that the vast majority of the
and~of its direction are
individualists in their attitude of
mind and in their social outlook:
that the expansion of Socialist doc
trines finds its most fertile area in
the ignorance of many workers. and
yet. labor organizations, as they
stand today are the greatest bull
wark against Socialism.
"On the other hand. some labor
leaders overlook the fact that IL
we are to maintain our high stand
ards Of living. our productivity. IL
can only be in a society in which
We maintain the utmost possible
initiative on the part of the en-
ployer; and further. that in the
long run We can only expand the
standard of living by the steady
increase of production and the cre-
alton of more goods for division
over the same numbers.
The American Federation of La
Dor has publicly stated that it de-
sires the support of the engineer
ing skill of the United States in
the development OF methods for in
creasing production and ] believe IL
10 the duty of our body to under
take a constructive consideration or
assistance. not only to the Feder-
alton of Labor. but also 20 the other
great economic organizations inter-
~sted in this problem. such as the
Employers Association and the
Chambers of Commerce
Three-Phase Waste.
1T is primary to mention the
three-phase waste in production;
first, from intermittent employ
ment; second. from unemployment
that arises in shifting industrial
currents, and third. from strikes
and lockouts. Beyond this elimi-
nation of waste there is another
field of progress in the adoption of
measures for positive increase in
production.
In the elimination OF the great
waste and misery of intermittent
employment and unemployment we
need at once coordination in eco
nomic groups. For example, our
engineers have pointed time and
again to the bituminous coal in
dustry, where the bad economic
functioning OF that industry results
in an average of but $50 days en-
ployment per annum, where great
VI COAd1ASh NOhA0 bS AdN
il a basis of cooperation could be
found between the coal operators,
the coal miners, the railways and
the great consumers The combined
result would be a higher standard
of living to the employees. a reduc-
ed risk to the operator, a funda-
mental expansion Of economic life
by cheaper fuel.
With our necessary legislation
against combination and the lack
of any organizing force 10 bring
about this corporation, the indus
try is helpless unless We can de-
velop some method of governmental
interest, not in governmental own
ership, but in stimulation to CO.
operation in better organization.
Organization Needed.
IN help against the misery in
the great field Of seasonal and 9TH
cr unemployment, We indeed need
an expansion and better organiza-
ton of our local and Federal labor
exchanges. We have vast amount
OF industry, seasonal in character
which must shift its labor compile
ment to other industries. The indi-
vidual worker is helpless to ma
the contacts necessary TO make TINS
shift unless the machinery for tins
purpose is provided for him
an the question Of industrial
conflict resulting in lockout and
strike, one mitigating measure mas
been agreed upon in principle by
all sections OF the community. That
is collective bargaining, by which
wherever possible, the parties should
settle their difficulties before they
start a fight. IL is founded moi
only on the sense of prevention but
( on the human right TO consolidate
the worker in a proper balanced
position to uphold his rights against
the consolidation of capital rms
measure, advocated for Ions years
by organized labor, was agreed 10
by the employers group in the first
Industrial conference. II has been
supported in the platform OF h'th
political parties.
Method OF Execution.
The point where the universal
application of collective bars aiming
| has broken down. is in the method
of it's execution. The conflict arises
\ almost wholly over the question oi
representation and questions Of en-
, forcement. The employer in s"mt
/ Industries denies the right of men
other than his own employees te
conduct the negotiations.
| Labor organizations demand thd'
as such negotiations require skin
experience and bargaining freedom
+, they are of more than local appli'
cation and that thus they only car
protect the body of workers by pre-
senting the case on thr ir behalf by
/ skilled negotiators.