The Washington herald., 1920-07-28
CHURCH REPORT
BLAMES TRUST
FOR BIG STRIKE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

printing biased and colored news.
Both press and public are said to
have been silent on the actual ques-
tion OF justice involved, and thus
TO have contributed toward the
weakening of the strikers morale.
Another share of the blame is
credited to the American Federation
of Labor, which is accused of CIV
ing ineffective support to the strike
through the twenty-four crafts
unions which it organized for the
purpose Of fostering the strike.
People Prejudieed.
The unity Of the strike is said to
have been affected seriously by the
prevailing prejudice in the steel
towns. in the general public mind,
and among the English-speaking
workingmen against the foreigners,
who constituted the great majority
Of the strikers. Another contribut-
ing factor to the strike defeat is
stated to have been the public fear
of a general labor war due to the
coincidence of the coal strike and
threat of the railroad strike, to-
gether with labor's failure to formu-
late and explain its purposes with
regard to public service.
eDenunciation is made in the report
of the 6S.7 hour week, the 12-hour
day, whether on a straight 12-hour
shift or on a broken division, the
unbroken 24-hour work period at
the turn Of a shift, and the under
payment of unskilled labor. The
boss system" the military plant
organization" and the 'autocratic
NF,r1
also come in for a share of the
blame.
It is also said that the claim of the
corporation that it accords it's em-
pIoyes the right to join unions and
the opportunity of conference. are
theoretical, neither privilege being
allowed in practice. The use OF
"under-cover" men is severely con-
demned az breeding distrust, weak
ening morale and stimulating ill
will.
Corporation Blamed.
Finally, the refusal of the United
States Steel Company to confer is
cited as deserving condemnation. Ir'
is recalled that the steel corpora
tion's refusal to accept mediation or
follow the recommendations of the
IL
and proved a serious obstacle to
strike settlement.
Recommendations to both labor
and capital are made by the COM
mission. Adoption OF an S-hour shift
on all continuous processes is urged.
They recommend limitation lof the
day to not more than 10 hours on
. duty. with not more than a 6-hour
day and a 54-hour week. A wage
providing for the American stand
ard of living through the labor of
the natural bread-winner, permit
ting the mother to keep up a good
home and the children to obtain at
least a high school education is
urged.
Recognition Of the right to con-
ference. unionize and collective bar
gaining. is also urged. The work
er's personal comfort is recognized
in a recommendation for a vast ex-
tension of house building. by the
community II possible, otherwise by
the steel companies.
Labor Criticised.
Some admonishment is also Offer
ed to organized labor in recommen-
dations that it. "democratize and
control the unions, especially in re-
gard to the calling, conduct and set
Element of strikes" 1t Is also sug-
gested that labor reorganize unions
with view of sharing in the re-
sponsibility of production and in the
control of production processes. The
report advises that labor repudiate
the restriction of production as a
doctrine, formulate workable con-
tracts, and find a substitute for the
closed shop wherever 1t has been a
union practice
Labor is advised in another part
of the report to seek alliance and
council from the salaried class
known as brain workers" also to
prepare more adequate technical in
formation for the public in regard
to all conditions bearing upon the
conduct and calling of strikes