Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-26
ADMINISTRATION IS
HAPPY OVER PACKER
AND LABOR TRUCE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Ieased Wire Service to The Journat)
Copyright, 1929

BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journat.)
! Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, March 24-Presi-
dent Harding was a happy man to-
day. His administration had set
tied the first big industrial con-
troversy that had threatened to dis
turb the economic peace of the
country. Mr.. Harding met the rep
resentatives of both the packers and
their employees and expressed his
qualification over the amicable out
come Secretaries Davis, Hoover and
Wallace, of the departments of Ia
Dor, commerce and agriculture, who
handled the negotiations for the
government, were there, too, and it
really was an unusual sight-em-
ployer and employee joyful over the
result.
Broadly speaking, there is deep
er significance in the settlement of
the packer troubles than appears on
the surface. Members of the cabinet
were careful to point out that some
of the morning papers today gave a
wrong impression when they en-
deavored to interpret the policy Of
the Harding administration as one
favoring wage cuts. The reduction
in wages in this case was entirely
matter between both parties to
the controversy and was neither
| suggested by the administration nor
pressed by it as a point of special
interest to the government.
But there was principle laid
down which may be of guidance in
industrial disputes in the future and
which has a world of meaning to
the business world in America. 1t
is simply that union labor is not
Wages f there R s''eR IS nc aftempt at
the same time to use the economic
situation as a means of breaking
down the standards which union la
Dor acquired for itself during the
war.
Packers Were Ready
The packers say they could have
stood a strike. The men naturally
didn't want to be thrown out of en-
ployment at this time, but they
would have endured great sacrifices
if the packers had insisted upon
abrogating the eight-hour day and
other advantages which have moth
ing to do with compensation but
which have great deal to do with
OF course, it cannot be said thai
permanent peace has been attained
as between the packers and theil
employees. A more accurate descrip
ton of the settlement would be tt
call it a siXmonths truce, but the
psychological effect of the agree
ment today is the confident hope
that a recurrence iof controversy
may be handled later on in the same
way as it was this time.
For the next six months at any
rate the employees accepted a reduc
ton in pay of about eight cents al
! hour while the packers agreed not Il
without submitting them to arbitra
ton.
The packers granted the eight-houl
day which previously had been thu
standard and agreed to submit an!
changes in work hours to the ad
ministrator, Judge Aischuler. who
has been virtually the dictator a:
between employees and employers il
the packing industry since the war
The Alschuler agreement which be
came effective in 1917 was to have
ended a year after the proclamation
of peace between the United State:
and Germany.
Understanding Reached
The uncertainty about the date hal
caused controversy and while thu
packars insisted the war was over
union labor thought that TECHNICAL!
war conditions remained. The truti
of the matter is that labor wanted
to retain the advantages of thu
Alschuler agreement and the packers
wanted to get rid of it. Finally thu
understanding was reached to con
tinue the agreement for another si3
months after which 1t Will be def
initely terminated and a new agree
, | will have TO he written.
The controversy may break gu
anew then. Still the men think the.
will be in a better position at tina
time to insist upon terms slmila
are today. The packers have thei
own views on the subject. Mean
while there is an industrial truce
Both sides are happy and expectant
President Harding and his cabine
maintained throughout the conf
dence of employees and employers
Union labor had a chance to size III
the Harding administration in an in
dustrial dispute and didn't find it 81
"reactionary" after all. Secretary o.
Labor Davis didn't appear to have
all the background necessary for al
effective mediator in this particular
industry, but he showed a sympa
lens of the workingman, while
the same time he called upon Secre
taries Hoover and Wallace and ex
perts who know the packing bushes:
intimately to give him advice.
The administrations next indus
trial problem probably will be the
railroad controversy and there, too
1t is no. SO much question of hlgf
wages as labor staadal os that the
working men want preserved. If any
administration policy can be CLEANED
from the packer episode, 1t is thai
President Harding is anxious tt
maintain equilibrium between capita
and labor by preventing, employers
from taking too much advantage OF
the present economic situation III
their attempts not only to reduce
wages but to break up union organ
cations and eliminate the standards
| won by labor through years OF DIT
ter struggle.
PACKERS AND EMPLOYEES
CONGRATULATED BY HARDING
WASHINGTON, March 24.-Rep-
resentatives of the packing industry
agreement here yesterday to avert
a threatened strike, were congratu-
lated today by President Harding on
the amicable settlement of the first
| big labor problem faced by the new
| administration.
Addressing the joint committee,
President Harding said:
II have asked you in solely for
my own satisfaction, 1 have learned
that you have found a way to avoid
a suspension of activities in pack
ing industry and / wanted, in the
presence of the cabinet representa-
tives who have joined you in this
matter, to express the appreciation
of the executive.
81 want to say in regard to the
controversy that this administra ton
has nearest to it's heart at all times
any righteous activities in this
country. I have said publicly, and
1 want to say it to you, If we can
bring our civilization to a point
| where we can meet around the table