New-York tribune., 1920-11-21

ton for the resumption of prosp.
confidently.
I am more concerned about possible
changes In hours. During the last five
years the eixhthour day has been in
trodueed into industry after industry
lieve the eight-hour day is tho working
period that makes for maximum eff
cheney in the long run. I think that il
would be caamitous II employers used
their present advantage In bargaining
power to restore the longer working
hours that used to prevail. In saying
this have In mind not only efficiency
IN the mill and factory, but even more
efficient citizenship. 1t used to be OBJ.
jected to the eight-hour day that the
the saloon. Whatever their inclinstions
might be, thnt charge can no longer be
brought. The great majority spend
their added leisure with their families
IN reading the newspapers and maga-
zines, in social intercourse with their
fellows that broadens their interests
and sharpens their wits, In short, in
ways that tend to make them more in
selligent workers, more considerate
husbands and fathers and better citi-
zens. Employers in many instances
have the choice presented to them be-
tween imposing longer hours on a cur
tailed number of wage earners or still
further shortening of hours with COM
mensurate decrease In pay to the same
number of wage earners rs was pre-
viously employed. think 1t will be
deplorable if employers choose the first
rather than the second of these alter
natives. To increase hours at this time
and at the same time reduce the mum
Der of employees, since the same vol
ume Of products cannot find a market
would be to increase still further the
number of unemployed and to restore y
length Of working day, which, In the
long run, will make for smaller rather
than larger production In comparison
with che eight-hour day now 30 gener-
ally in vogue.
Employers Possible Course
But even more than over possible
changes in working hours I am con-
cerned over the use which employers
may make of their present advantage
to alter for the worse their industria
relations with their employees. During
the last fve years, when labor has
had the upper hand, ell sorts of abuse.
have undoubtedly crcpt in. The power
which labor leaders have welded IL
instances been grossly misused. EN-
ployers have chafed under their situa
tion. and it is only natural that the,
should now be In q temper to sweel
away all Of tho arrangements for col
iective bargaining that have gradual,
grown up and return to the oldScon
ditions under which the employer de
termined what the wages, hours an,
working conditions should be and tn
employee WAS given the alternative o
accepting them or seeking work some
where else. l am old enough to hav
lived through two previous period
organized to throw off, as the phras
goes, trade union domination In tn
last of these periods the movemen
WAS led by the so-called Citizens In
dustrial Alliance. In an address. t
this organization its president, MI
Parry, characterized trade unionsm a
q "sys.em that coerces and impover
fishes the worker. ruins the capitalis
terrorizes our politicians and destroy
our trado-a systcm which seems hope
lessly and irremediably bad and ba
to all true progress. danger to tn
state and menace to civilization.
the movement was "thc open shop" bu
no secret was then made, as Mr.. Parry
statement indicates, Of the fact tina
tho real purpose was to smash tn
unions.
am not finding fault with the ope
shop. II Il !s fairly administe red-tha
10, II an establishment is really ope
to both unionists and -unionist
and the employer leaves it to the FIRE
choice OF his employees whether the
shall c'ong to union or not n
one can find fault with the open shol
But you gentlemen know as we'll as
do that the matter Is not so simpl
In this connection | cannot do bette
than to quote from the valuable re
plies which the New Jersey State Chan
Der Of Commerce addressed 20 the Unit
ed States Chamber Of Commerce i
answer to It's Questionnaire on indu.
trial relations. 1t is there stated trul
that the terms open shop" and "close
shop" arc vague and misleading. :"
non-union shop Is not recessarily open
It 10 often closed TO union men.
union shop 10 not necessnrily closed
there arc many instances df shop
whore the union is recognized and ys
nc disertm Ina ton Is allowed as betw~e
union and non-union workers." WINS
tho public !ntercst requires Is thu
the avenues Of employment shall b
kept open on fair and equal terms e,
eli competent workers. Under ccrtai
circumstances there are advantages I
the employer as well a. 10 the ernploys
In nsintaininx this situation throug
Agreements between employers and err
ployess' organizations which inelud
the provision that employees shall joi
tho unions concerned in the agreement
at the same time or Within reason
able period after they come Into tF
a4vsn industry. For. gentlemen. u
9oesA shop arrangements that hA,
1a ~ IN osrtain American il