The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-03-24
Situation Handled by the Adj
ministration Threatened Eco
nomic Peace of Country.
A SIX MONTHS TRUCE.
Railroad Controversy Prob
ably Next Big Industrial
Problem to Be Faced.
By DGUtd laurence.
Especial Correspondent Of The Eve.
1faa W-.fLN

WASHINGTON. March "a Copy
right 1s2i)-Presiden Harding was
happy man to-day. Ills Admins
tration had settled the nrst big in 70
dustrial controversy that had
threatened 70 disturb the economic
peace or the country. Mr.. Harding
met the representatives OF both the
packers and their employees and ex
pressed his qualification over the
amicable outcome.
Secretaries Davis, Hoover and
Wallace OF the Departments OF
Labor Commerce and Agriculture,
who handled the Negotiations for the
Government, were there too, and Il
WIS really an unusual sight-em-
pioyer and employee Joyful over the
result.
Broadly speaking, there In a deeper
Significance In the settlement OF the
packer troubles than appears on the
surface. Members OF the Cabinet
were careful 70 point out that some
OF the published reports to-day gave
q wrong impression when the writers
endeavored TO interpret the policy OF
the Harding Administrator as one
favoring wage cuts. The reduction
In wages in this case was entirely a
matter between both parties to the
controversy and was neither sung
gested by the Administration nor
pressed by II as point OF especial
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 Ia not I'M
willing 10 accept reductions in wages
II there Ia no attempt at the same
time to use the economic situation
as a means OF breaking down the
standards which union labor ac-
quired for itself during tho war.
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 hut they would
have endured great sacrifices II the
packers had insisted upon abrogating
the eight-hour day and other advan-
tages which have nothing TO do with
compensation but which have a great
deal to do with conditions OF work.
OF course, II cannot be said that
permanent peace has been attained
as between the packers and their
employees. A more accurate descrip-
ton Of the settlement would be to
call IL a six months truce, but the
psychological effect Of the agreement
to-day Is the confident hope that a
recurrence OF the controversy may be
handled later on in the way It has
been.
For the next six months, at any
rate, the employees accepted re-
duction in pay OF about cents an
hour, while the packers agreed not
70 make any further wage reduc-
tions without submitting them to
arbitration.
The packers granted the eight
hour day, which had previously been
the standard, and agreed to submit
any changes In work hours to the
Administrator, Judge Alschuler, who
has been virtually the dictator a.
between employees and employers in
the packing Industry since the war
The Alschuler agreement, which be-
, came effeOtive In 1917, was to have
ended in year after the prOclama-
, ton OF peace between the United
States and Germany.
, The uncertainty about the dat
has caused controversy, and while
the paOiSers insisted tho war wa
over union labor thought that tech
nlcally war conditions remained
Labor wanted 10 retain the advan-
, tages Of the Alschuler agreement and
the packers wanted to get rid of II.
, Finally the understanding wa
. reached 70 continue the agreement
TOT another six months after which
II will be definitely terminated and 3
now agreement will have TO be writ.
ten. The controversy may break on
4 anew then. sim the men think the,
4 win DC IN Detter position Mt thai
time to insist upon terms similar n
the Alschuier agreement than theJ
} are to-day The packers have Their
, own views on the subject.
Meanwhile there is an Industr,al
4 truce. Both sides are happy and OK.
> pectant. Union labor had a chancs
TO size ~ the Harding AdmIniEtra .
ton in an industrial dispute ant
didn't md II 10 'reactiOnary" after
= all.
a The Administrators next indua.
trial problem will probably be 10,
. railroad controversy. and there too h
= Is not 30 much a question of higt
wages as labor standards that IN,
worldngmen want preserved. N AM
: Administration policy can be CLEANED
\ from the packer episode Il Ia tina
A President Harding IA anxious 4
maintain equilibrium between capita
and labor by preventing employers
from taking too much advantage o
the present economic situation II
their Attempts not only 70 radu0,
wages Bot 70 break up union orEan.
- hnsA