New-York tribune., 1920-03-01
Labor POLICY
Is Mapped Out
For Cleveland
Chamber of Commerce Aims
to Establish Principles
as Basis for Proper
Relations in Industry
Manifesto To Be Issued
Collective Bargaining, Fair
Playfor Women, 8-Hr.D Day
and Open Shop Approved
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


CLEVELAND, Feb. 29.-The Cleye-
land Chamber of Commerce will pres
ent to it's members tomorrow a tenta
tive declaration of principles estab
lishing basis for proper labor re-
lations in Cleveland" The statement
was drawn up by the labor committee
OF the Chamber of Commerce at the
suggestion of Paul L. Feiss, president
of the chamber
In the light of criticisms made by
members, the declaration will be
amended and adopted March Is as an
official pronouncement of the chamber
IN. its efforts to take the lead among
CIVIC bodies of the nation in the PRO
mitigation Of constructive labor
policy.
The manifesto advocates collective
bargaining under the form of rep
resentative negotiation" which is de-
fled as that form Of collective bar
gaming which provides for pcgotia-
ton between an employer and duly
accredited representatives Of his en-
pioyees regarding hours, wages and
all other matters properly affecting
their relationship"
The desire of employees to retain
an adviser or advocate" to meet with
representative CT the employees in
negotiations with the employer is
supported.
Aims to Avert Strikes
he statement advocates the setting
I'D of machinery "to develop and crys-
tallze' public opinion in accordance
with the facts in industrial disputes
and to effect the suspension Of strikes
or lock-outs until the facts OF the dis
putes have been established.
The declaration calls for increased
produetlon as prime factor in reduc-
ing prices and depreciating restriction
ployers, in order to increase wages or
prices. Wages, the declaration says,
while influenced by the law of supply
and demand, should take into account
such factors as productivity, continu-
ity and cost of living.
Equal wages for equal work" for
women is qualified by the statement
that overhead costs of employing wom-
en- are higher than those in employing
men.
The eight-hour day is "recognizcd"
as having been adopted in many indus
tries and the plan of paving extra for
overtime when necessary is indorsed,
though overtime work is discouraged.
The open shop is approved, but the
declaration is not intended to prevent
the adoption of the closed shop where
both parties to the agreement desire it,
Wage payers are advised to place
frankly before their employees bust
ness details necessary to prove the re-
latioA OF wages and expenses to costs
and prices and the necessity for an
adequate" return on invested capital.
Coercion or violence, whether in the
, form of blacklisting or intimidation is
condemned.
Twenty-six Men Sign
Twentysix Of the thirty members of
the labor committee signed the declar-
alton. William G.. Lee, president of
the Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen.
and Warren @. Stone, grand chief of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, are among the twentv-six.
wide variety in the forms of labor
relations exists in the concerns with
which the members of the committee e
are identified. They come from closed
shops, from open shops and from cor
porations which refuse to deal with
labor representatives at all
They come from plants where un-
usual forms Of frderalized representa-
tive systems have been tried with con-
splcuous success, and from companies
"iilCH never IclL tNc Eeeu or any
scheme of bargaining.
The aim of the document is to crys-
talze public opinion on these matters
and to get employers and employees to
pull together" Sheldon Cary, chairman
Of the committee, said yesterday 1--WE
hope to help set up community pol
icy in labor relations"
The declaration will be sent o-day
to President Wilson's industrial con-
ference in the hope that it will be re-
ceived in time for consideration, at
least for assurance that some of the
principles advocated in the con-
ference's preliminary report are sup
ported. The directors and the com
nittee previously sent the conference
some recommendation which they
never made public.