Evening star., 1921-04-30
Editorial Digest
Are Unions Useless2

Are Unions Useless2
Judge Gary's statement that "there
is no necessity for unions" cannot be
said to be the opinion of the Ameri-
can press. but his general criticism
of labor organizations is found to
| TRUTH" as the New Bedford Standard
Grepublican) expresses It, to which
the majority of newspapers agree.
| While some writer's consider that the
Steel Corporal. ms head has sounded
real warning in declaring that gov
ernment control is the only block to
| evils of unioniSm, few think that this
! step is either imminent or seriously
! to be contemplated.
| The Cincinnati Times-Star (republi-
CAM granting measure of truth" to
| Mr.. Gary. strikes the keynote of COM
| ment. when it says: Some laborers
some employers would destroy all
labor unions. The average American
! is content with the existing situation
! IN the United States. with the unions
strong enough to curb the powers of
| the employers, but not strong enough
TO establish dictatorship of their
own
Likewise. allowing for the truth
IN Judge Gary's generalization. the
/ harrisburg Telegraph Gepublican)
declares that his views will have
popular support Just 50 far as they
! reflect public sentiment in it's atti-
| tude toward properly curbing some
of the radical activities of the unions
and no farther"
The New York Times Independent
democraticl finds Mr.. Garys vision
not quite "adequate." And though it
considers that his policy is abso-
lutely humane it asks would it
have been quite what it is if there
labor"
"Forthright but not wise" is the
comment of the New York Globe Gin
dependenD on the judges remarks,
which, it says represent views held
: in 1880, and some that held sane
! tion in 1900" Democracy" it con-
cludes. has it's drawbacks and COL
lectiVe bargaining based on trade
unionism is no Utopia. but both rep
resent progress and steps toward hu-
man liberty" A similar viewpoint is
taken by the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
independent democratic). which
agrees that "many of the acts of la
Dor unions are to be denounced" but
adds. they are probably no more
inimical to society than the vast ag-
gregations of capital and manage
ment so conspicuously typified by
Judge Gary's Steel Corporation"
A number of writer's. without sub
scribing to a program that would
organization, take Mr.. Gary's state
ment as the theme for editorials
which point out the dangers that
menace industry and the unions
themselves unless they mend their
ways. Typical of this is the Boston
Herald independent republican,. 1t
says:
The public will agree with much
that he says upon the selfish tyranny
of many labor leaders Of the present
time. but Judge Gary speaks with
small authority when he comments
upon the past of organized labor
Labor stands to lose what it has won
by organization through abuse Of the
power organization has yielded. Labor
unionism has much in the past OF
which to be proud; its future depends
upon it's will and nerve to clean house
Right now the unions are at the criti-
cal crossroads of their history"
The plan of government control of
labor and industry both is neither
new nor feasible" declares the Reno
Gazette (republican). and the Provi-
dence Tribune independent republic
CAM thinks there will be some
suggesting it. The Sioux City Tribune
independently takes the other side:
whenever capital and labor close
in combat and jeopardize property,
there is third party IN the contro-
versy. party vitality interested-the
public. The Gary plan would give the
public ready-to-hand means Of as
serting it's rights"
few come out strongly in praise
of the judge without reservation. The
New York Herald independently points
to "recoil from unionism," due to
economic inefficiency" as emphasized
by the Judge. This reversion Of feel
ing, says the New York Tribune (re-
publican). has a reason, the RESPONSE
bility for which "any intelligent
unionist can locate" namely. abuse
of power Formerly labor was the
under dog. and had sympathy as such.
Now, in many industries, 1t is the up
per dog. and all know it."
This growth of power must be end
ed. urges the Buffalo Commercial Gin
dependent, which calls upon it's
countrymen to "be not blind to this
danger, but take our stand with the
stockholders of the United States
Steel Corporation and every other
body of citizens who are making this
fight against American bolshevism."