The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-04-08
ooMPERs ON PRODUCTION.

A recent interview with Samuel
Comp 5. published In the System
Magazine. puts that great leader In
much less radical light than he Is
sometimes made to appear. Under
such q program as he outlines. It
ought not to be impossible to work
out practicable plans Of co-opera-
ton between employers and en-
ployes. The particular point had In
mind by Mr.. Crowther. who inter-
viewed Mr.. Gompers, was the atti-
tude OF organized labor toward In
creased production which 10 now felt
to be so vitality essential to the
prosperity Of the country.
Asked what he would do II he were
an employer, Mr.. Gompers says he
would seek Increased production by
frequent consultation with union
leaders Just as he would consult an
Industrial engineer. He would on
courage efficiency and decrease cost
Of production In this way rather than
by reducing wages Mr.. Gompers
insists that high wages do not neces-
sarily mean high cost of production,
but are q great incentive to In
creased efficiency and the develop
ment of machinery for the expan-
sion of the workers production ca
pacity. Cheap men do not mean
cheap output
Mr.. Gompers also declares that,
while It may have been the case
once, the American labor movement
does not oppose the installation OF
improved and labor saving machin-
cry, but he thinks the laborer should
share In the increased output which
he produces by the aid OF such ma
chinery. The veteran labor leader 70
In favor Of placing more and not less
responsibility upon the workers
themselves and the representatives OF
their organizations. He would not
hesitate to appeal to those higher IN
authority In the organization as
against members who were derelict
In the performance OF their duties
While Mr.. Gompers favors stand
ard wage, he nevertheless favors pay
ment on q production basis. Those
who earned more than the standard
would be paid more proportionately'
This he would not consider In the
light OF q gift or a bonus. but an ak
act measure OF the workers earn
ings. He explains that one OF the
workers reasons for Directing 70 DO
more than the standardized task IL
his fear that most OF the profits from
the excess will 20 to tho employer
But MIR. Gompers insists that there
10 no suspicion in union doctrine that
all men are equal In ability"
All OF which seems not unreason-
able. It sounds constructive-a'
least 70 a degree. We do not believe
the American people generally FAVOR
deprivinE the worker OF his due, but
there 4. a manifest impatience over
the precipitation OF one strike after
another and the holding up OF pro
ouction OF the necessaries OF nfe
The people look with more or less
suspicion on the contentious OF
worlsingmen who refuse TO alio"
their demands to be reviewed by any
other trihune-however impartial
than themselves. No man can DC
disinterested IN considering his own
! interests.
Bevond doubt, there are bourbon
employers who look upon their em-
ployes as little more than slaves just
as there are radical labor ag'iatori
who would not hesitate to wreck th'
industry OF starve the people Of ta'
country 20 carry out their schemes
But American people want TO do right
They may be trusted when issues ar,
j presented TO them intelligently and
comprehensibly. The worker mas
safely carry his appeal to them. hu'
in order TO win their support h'
should be chile 10 show them thai
his demands are Just and that be VII
stand by what he proposes.
i As we have before intimated' We
i believe II would help q a better
undersia ding IL labor oFksni7etion'