The Connecticut labor press., 1921-01-08

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altogether upon economic and industrial
! conditions. In some industries which
function badly, there should be reduc
ton III the hours of labor so far as the
days work IS concerned so that the
| workers may be permitted to work ar
increased number of days per year. We
! have great many industries that are
seasonal. Those employed therein are
called upon to work only when the sea-
| sonable requirements offer them an op-
portunity to do so. The point to which
hours of labor, therefore, should be re-
Isduced in these seasonal enp1oyments
must be determined by the demand
made for the things produced.
The principle which should govern
Labor in making its demands regarding
wages and hours of employment is the
American standard of living for Amer
lean working men and women. None
should be called to work for a lower
wage than would maintain this stand
ard and none should be called upon to
work longer hours than sound public
policy, reason and economic necessity
would require.
From ]. W. Hays Secretary-T rcasur-
or, International Typographical Union.
(a) 1t is my opinion that with few
exceptions there is no idea whatever
among the officers of international labor
organizations to absorb industry
through any efforts they are making to
better conditions and increase the in
comes of their members.
OBJ This is a question that is some
what difficult to answer. Of course the
indefinite advancing of wages and the
continued shortening Of hours, if car
to
tually eliminate all Labor and there
would be no question as to what would
then become of the wage end of the
situation.
Co In my opinion there is but one
principle that can govern Labor's de-
mands relative to wages and hours. The
idea that a standard should be estab-
ished on which wages and working
conditions should be based is a fa1lacy
and cannot be successfully established
and maintained. Establishing a stand
ard of life for the working man means
that he is at that standard, cannot adj
vance beyond it and is only prevented
from receding from it by the fact that
some one has fixed it and he is forced
to come up to it. This eliminates all
the elements of human nature and hui
man beings are not so constituted as to
tolerate it. So long as the people who
control industries and the manufacture
ing of the goods that are purchased by
the working man continue arbitrarily to
unite and fix the prices at which these
goods shall be sold, so long will it be
necessary that the 1aboring men unite
to fix the prices at which their labor will
be sold. Until an agreement is reached
between the control of industry and the
representatives of Labor, strife must en-
sue. We speak of profteers, but before
the question of prohteering IS settled |
some one must determine What is a |
reasonable amount at which an article |
of commerce should be sold. When |
that is done then it may be possible |
a sound principle which should govern
Labor's demands relative to wages and |
Ohurs."
From, Jos. F: Valentine, Vice Pyesi-
dent, 4. F. of L.; member, 4. F. of L.
Erccuti0c Council; President, Iuterna-
ti0nal MOlders' Union of North Amer-
lea.
The effect of advance in wages,
whether real or in dollars, depends upon
A number Of factors, among these be-
ing exchange value of national currency
and consumption by foreign markets.
Real wages could be considerably ad-
vanced above their present point and the
cost of Labor's product to the consumer
reduced if large element
among midd1emen, who perform no use
full function, were eliminated from
commerce. The effect of shortening
hours also depends upon some of these |;
factors for its results upon industry. It
would be advantageous, for instance, to /
shorten the hours when
his was necessary to give employment
o large number of unemployed. There
S a twilight zone in the question of
hours of labor which we are not in
position to determine with defniteness.
The man riding behind the engineer
Irving the engine of limited express
rain wants to feel assured that the en- :
sineer has had no physical or nervous
train upon his vitality which in the
teady nerves. Possibly, a very few :
hours of service in the locomotive cab :
S all that can be placed with safety up
IN the engineer. There are other
branches of industry and transportation :
where the strain of labor is not so Sc
ere and where longer hours can be
worked without any in ury to the work.
r and with benefit to himself and the :
ommunity. But no one familiar with
circumstances surrounding labor would
ndeavor to classify or name maximum :
r minimum hours which would be &C :
epted as rule. :
Co In my opinion, the sound prin-
ip1e which should govern Labor's de-
1and relative to wages and hours is one
ased upon a true and adequate con-
liberation of the wage earner's inter-
SITS and the interest of the mass of :
eop1e. :
From ". D. Dlahon, Vice President,
I. F. of L.; member, 4. F. of L.
reCuti7c Council; International Pres
tent, -4malgamated Association of
hcet and Electric RailzVay Employees :
1t is very convenient for complain
1ts, no matter what the method, to &C :
use Capital of making unconscionab1e .
rOfts at the expense of Labor and :
aople and accuse Capital of endeavor-
lg to Cypress and enslave workers, and =
ccuse Labor of endeavoring to absorb :
dustry by ever increasing wages and
hours. In instances where :
lese accusations are made respectively =
y the parties, Capital and Labor, the
ethod in such charges is clearly dis :
rnible, and really Capital and Labor :
e the units that make up practically :
lie whole of society. The great ques- :
on is: How will equity obtain? Labor :
enefts by organization. Capital can =