The Connecticut labor press., 1921-01-08
Does Organized Labor
Aim To Absorb Industry =?
Samuel That This Objective
of Organized Workers-Repies Question Array
of Important Statements by Unionisms
Leading Minds.

The charge has been made in sew
eral quarters that Organized Labor
seeks to absorb or get absolute control
of industry through ''ever advancing
wages and shortening hours" Should
this be the ultimate objective OF the or
gained labor movement, as charged, 1t
would be correctly interpreted as an
attempt to bring about fundamental
changes in society without giving society
in general a part in determining Wheth-
er or not the evolution should take
place 1t has been repeatedly stated
that much of the discord that exists IN
industry is traceable to the fact that
there is feeling on the part of many
people that Organized Labor has we'll
defined plans to force the employers
out of business through the channel of
higher wages and shorter hours.
For the purpose of arriving at some
definite idea on the subject of Organ
lied Labor's aims, the National Labor
Digest sent the following questions to
labor leaders and to a number of rep
resentatives of business:
(a) In your opinion is Organized
Labor, by ever advancing wages and
shortening hours" endeavoring to abb
sorb industry?
(b) Whether or not Organized La
Dor is actually endeavoring to absorb
industry, what, in your opinion. will be
the effect if a practice of advancing
wages and shortening hours" should be
continued indefinitely?
Co In your opinion, what sound
principle should govern Labor's de-
mands relative to wages and hours?
The replies received form an inter-
esting if not conclusive, compilation on
the aims and detectives of many leaders
in the organized labor movement. Pres
ident Samuel Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor makes direct
denial of the charge that "Organ1zed
Labor is endeavoring- to absorb indus
try" while w. E. Kimsey, secretary
treasurer of the Oregon State Fedora
ton of Labor, makes the fiat assertion
that it is. Other noted leaders of Or
ganized Labor, like Mr.. Gompers, FIRMLY
DENY the charge, while some make state |
ments that leave their views open to
question.
There is much material for study in
these letters, owing to the fact that the
authors are among the leading trade
union men of this country-men who |
are today guiding the minds of the
workers. The replies from the business
men will be published later.
From Samuel GOmberS
The statement that Organized Labor !
is "endeavoring to absorb industry by |
ever advancing wages and shortening
hours" is untrue and would not be made
by anyone who possesses the slightest
of the American labor
movement. The trade-union movement
is seeking to improve the conditions OF
Labor and it is seeking to extend the
principle in industry. These
are legitimate aims and they are aims
which are distinctly in keeping with
American principles and
ideals.
That for which the American Fedora
ton of Labor stands is distinctly set
forth by a declaration made by the con-
of the A. F. of l. in 1910 as
follows:
"Organized Labor contends for the
of the standard OF lite,
to uproot ignorance and foster educa-
ton, to instill character and manhood
and an independent spirit among our
people, to bring about a recognition OF
the interdependence OF the modern lite
Of man and his fel1ow-man. 1t aims to
establish a normal workday, take the
children from the factory and the Wor k
shop and place them in the school, the
nome and the playground. In word
he unions of Labor, recognizing the
luty of toll strive to educate their mem
,ers, to make their homes more cheer
Jul in every way, to contribute an earn
st effort toward making life the better
worth living to avail their members of
heir rights as citizens and to bear the
luties and responsibilities and perform
he obligations they owe to our coun-
nv and our fellow-men. Labor con-
ends that in every effort to achieve
IS praiseworthy ends all honorable and
awful means are not only commend
BILE but should receive the sympathetic
Import of every right-thinking pro-
ressive man."
Very truly yours,