The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-23
VS..
TIMBERWORKERS
LBY Harry Calll

In the July issue of the -Four l.
Bulletin, under the heading, Loyal
Legion Plan Is Better-Better Spirit
Makes IT,, the editor or writer as
he case may be makes quite lengthy
c, mment on an industrial plan that
was submitted by me some time
ago in response to an editorial that
appeared in the Bend Bulletin, a
daily newspaper printed in the city
of Bend, Oregon: This editorial
appeared a few days after debate
had been pulled in that city be-
tween an organizer of the -Four Is
and myself. In its efforts to mildly
support the position of the -Four LIS,
and at the same time not too severely
chastise the position of the Timber
workers, the editor asked that a con-
structive plan be submitted, in the
interests Of what he termed the
neutral public" The plan | sub
mitted was the "joint agreement" "
the details of which every union
man is entirely familiar, the plan
that has been adopted by fair and
sensible employers everywhere. In
order that there may be no opportun-
ity for anyone to say that the July
issue of the Four L Bulletin has
been misquoted, | will quote the
article in question in full. 1t is as
follows:
IAN EXCELLENT A R T c L E.
by Harry Call appeared in the Sc
attic Union Record of June 5,
in answer to a previous editorial
in the Bend. Bulletin, which in crit
20; h., / l,,
bate in Bend, called for something
constructive. Mr.. Call offers a plan
He offers it in a sane, constructive
manner, which gives a better insight
into union ideals than anything we
have read heretofore. We recall
the Bend editorial 1t impressed US,
as it evidently did Mr.. Call, as be-
ing pertinent. 1t is reasonable to
ask for something constructive.
"Mr. Calls plan as submitted has
seven stages: A committee to draw
up wage scale and working CON
ditions appointed by an organiza-
tion composed of employees only; a
report of this committee; a second
committee to present this scale to
the employer; report of the second
committee; if mutually satisfactory.
approval by the union; if unsatisfact-
ory, further conferences until agree
ment is reached; if agreement can
not be reached, then arbitration.
Getting down to brass tacks there
is not great deal of difference
between that program and the Four
L program. Both programs work
through committees. Both call for
organization, group movement, col
lective bargaining. Some advantage
rests with the Legion in being able
to deal with employers in a group
as well as employees in group
Furthermore, by a get-to-gether be-
tween employer and employe at the
outset, a lot of switching back and
forth is saved. The Call plan re-
minds one of Miles Standish sending
John to court Priscilla-itS a little
roundabout. Yet Mr.. Call stresses
Importance of the "joint agreement"
finally reached-it is of "benefit to
employer and employe." And 'joint
agreement" is exactly the aim and
purpose of the Loyal Legion. 1t is
built to secure Joint agreement
'Mr. Call and the Four L are there
fore agreed as to fundamental aim
1t is a question of method-but not
of method only. One method is as
good as another, let us assume, if
both achieve the Amin this case
the aim of joint agreement which
shall be of mutual benefit
"The very fact is that unionizing
at least in this industry, has not had
that happy result. Why? The plan,
though cumbersome, is perfectly log
ical-as a plan. The reason must be
sought in somthing less tangible
that mere machinery. 1t lies in the
psychology of the original promise
on which the plan proceeds Mr..
Calls plan and tone implies a sus-
piston of the motives of the employ
er. 1t implies an organization in
some measure opposed to him. The
organization will instinctively select
as its Representatives to submit pro-