The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-14
LAWS ARE NOT
The ANSWER TO
LABOR PROBLEM
Collective Bargaining and Good
Will Only Economic Cures.
Hoover Expresses His Doubts of
Kansas Industrial Court.
BUT SAYS IT'S WORTH TRIAL
Tells Senate Labor and Capital
VIII Get Together:
Declares Revolutionary Steps
Should Not Be Attempted.
Tells Senate Labor and Capital
VIII Get Together:

Washington. May 14.-Collective
baraining and good will" with public
opinion exercising the only pressure,
offer the best hope for industrial
peace, Herbert Hoover told the senate
labor committee today.
No revolutionary steps should be at
tempted. he said. Hoover declared
against injunctions, compulsory arbi-
tration and industrial courts.
Laws Will Not Help.
II do not believe that relationship
between labor and capital can be set
tied by any form of legal repression,
injunction, compulsory arbitration or
industrials because those lead ultf-
mately to the Jail as means of en-
forcement," Hoover said. "It leads to
the border of martyrdom and tends to
make for compulsory employment and
a compulsory wage"
The only hope lies in moderate en-
ployers and moderate labor leaders,
not in revolutionary steps or "extrem-
ist' leaders on either side, Hoover
said.
Kansas Court Worth Trial
The Kansas industrial court law is
practically a reproduction of the Aus
tralian labor acts. Hoover said.
II do not want to condemn the Kan
sos dOI III SpllS VI the 1d1iuT6 OF the
Australian acts to effect the results
anticipated he continued
The Kansas act is an experiment
that is worth trying on American soil.
1t may be possible to develop some
thing worth while. My own opinion,
however, is that the act cannot sue
ceed. In Australia the number of
strikes and dislocations is as great as
in other countries without them"
Eliminates Competition.
The Kansas law. Hoover said, would
ultimately determine fair profits as
well as establish a minimum wage,
he added.
1T in effect substitutes government
control of industry for competition
No revolutionary steps should be at
tempted and the whole problem should
be advanced one step at a time"
Hoover said this country need have
no fear of strikes being used for po-
litical ends and that labor leaders thus
far have used them only in the interest
of labor.
Wider use of collective bargaining
is the only step that should be taken
at present. Hoover believes.
Experience Only Guide.
You do think that ultimately there
will be worked out an industrial
code?' Senator Kenyon asked.
Ultimately, but it must be worked
out by experience" Hoover said.
Take the question of an eight hour
day. 1t is not a matter of universal
application but merely an approxima-
tion.''
In some industries, eight hours is
too long a day. he argued.
The question of a living wage is also
a variable matter. he said.
Profit sharing plans work better
with executive and office employees
rather than skilled labor, he told the
committee.
Do Not Want Beneyolence.
Devices have been used to the det-
riment of labor and that is the rea-
son for the alarm of organized labor u
Hoover said. zone accusation is that
bonuses are given to key men to pre-
vent organization.
1.-THE employees of the country are
| looking for a position of right instead
of a position of consideration" he
said.
What do you mean by that?" asked
fThey want their rights instead OF
benevolence." Hoover replied.
1--WE need restimulation of the Gre
ative instinct. With the enlargement
| of industry there has been a terrible
deadening of the creative instinct
/ The mutual feeling of responsibility
between employers and employe that
prevailed in earlier days must be re-
stored.
THAT relationship would be re-
stored by some plan of shop organiZa-
ton, but unfortunately labor has ir
some cases. and wrongfully 1 think
been influenced against it.
Self Interest Predominates.
"Self interest predominates to very
large degree today. During the wal
we had a period of altruism- The
pendulum, however, has swung the
/ other way with great rapidity."
Senator Jones. New Mexico. Demo
crat, said he understood that profits o1
! the war period are three times those
of the pre-war years but that the in
creases in wages are relatively small
There can be no question as to tbs
enormous increase in profits out OF
proportion to the increase in wage
COSTS" Hoover agreed.
Alarmed at British Plan.
| He viewe1 with very great alarm.
the Whitley shop council plan origin
CONTINUED on Page Six-I