The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-18

1p1eCe WOTk IS LQe correct pIluClp4e VI
employment and should be adopted
wherever practicable. Vice President
W. w. .Atterbury sustains this posi-
ton and recently warned members OF
the chambers of commerce that con-
Etanuation- OF the federal agreement
would perpetuate the closed shop and
would lead to NATURALIZATION Of
great industry"
Will Oppose Government.
The attitude of the corporation is
thus clearly defined by two of its
foremost operating officials. It is not
believed that they will respect any de-
cision adverse to their wishes that
may be awarded by the trarsporta-
ton board. They are looking for
fight, and it is assumed that they
have the moral if not active support
! of other railroad corporations and big
| business generally.
The workers, while preferring the
ways of peace, a"e not minded to
! tamely submit to the cancellation of
| conditions that have improved their
| material and spiritual status and so
| indicated in the strike votes referred
! to. Officers of the several shop crafts
have been instructed to employ the
most extreme methods to prevent the
reinstatement of the indefensible
piece-work system. An important Of
ficer of the International Association
of Machinists announces that the men
will never submit to this reactionary
proposal and that there will be a uni
versal strike if the company does not
definitely abandon it's announced in
tention.
Labor More Efficient.
| Officials of the Pennsylvania de-
clare that labor output has decreased
as a result of the application Of the
hour-rate system. Statistics are cited
that are intended to bolster up their
! contention. But these figures, pre-
pared by officers OF the corporation,
like many other presentations for
public consumption, prove that liars
are able to make truthful figures give
false testimony.
! In his final report of the operation
| Of the railroads during the 2S-months'
period of federal control Transporta-
ton Director Walker D. Hines de-
clared that the equated number of
hours Of railroad workers during the
year 1919 decrease .002 per cent. In
| comparison with the equated hours
of 1916, when the piece-work system
was in full bloom. The railroad COM
panies, in other words, paid for less
hours for a greatly increased volume
Of business. The government found
that railroad workers were not only
loyal and efficient, but that its hu-
name policies we're sustained by
sound business. results.
Hits at Labor Unions.
| The attack Of tho Pennsylvania on
the hour-rate system has a deeper
meaning that is vouchsafed by its
officials. They regard this a the
that offers them greater chance for
success. The public. badly or wrongly
informed by the press, would not un-
derstand the real issue involved and
might reasonably be expected to &C.
cept the sophisticated arguments Of
corporation spokesmen as justifying
4 course that actually sought to de-
stroy the organizations that have been
carefully builded up by the workers,
that they might enjoy the right Of col.
lective bargaining and have adequate
defense against unfair and arbitrary
treatment. -c
For many years prior to the inter-
vention Of the government the Penn
sylvania ana other eastern railroads
successfully resisted the efforts Of
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