The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-31
:, !: !, iii I'll EXPERT IS
FORUM SPEAKER
SUNDAY EVENING
Talked on Problems Employers
Must Meet
NEITHER SIDE is PERFECT
There VIII Always Be Controversy
but Friction Can Be Overcome
by Fair Dealing.

! One of the most interesting and en-.
joyable Of the whole Forum series was
that Sunday night at which George L.
Macllwain of Boston was the speaker.
The attendance was good and Mr..
MacIlwain was given the keenest at.
tention.
His position is that of labor spec
ialist Of the big Roger W. Babson
statistical agency of Boston The bust
ness Of this agency is to furnish
statistical and other information to
manufacturing mercantile industries
and to groups, unions, newspapers and
other seekers after facts The Bah
son agency represents neither one
side or the other in controversy but
undertakes to collect and compile the
facts on which conclusions may be
reached.
Mr. MacIlwain is the head of that
part of the organization which collects
and gives out that part of the infor.
nation relating to labor and employ
ment. He stated at the opening that
TO their Cheats who we're employees,
they undertook TO show what they had
to meet In connection with labor.
either organized or unorganized. while
to clients who represented labor they
supplied statistical information rela-
tive to conditions which they would
have to encounter.
He declared that action and react.
ion are generally equa. that the PEN
dulum swings both ways and that
either side is sure TO be disappointed
when 1t concludes that it is going to
have its own way entirely. During the
five years of war, labor has had pret-
ty much its own way. Now has come
on a period when the employers are in
control, but in the long run neither the
one nor the other will have its way
and the sensible thing to do Is to build
on a long time and not on a short time
basis. Controversy over the issie will
never close and ought not to; as pro-
gress is never secured by settling down
to fixed conditions but fairness on
both sides wi lessen friction and over
come difficulties
He stated that his address related
chiefly to the employment OF labor
on a large scale and not to the small
plaat or individual employment where
personal contact is maintained. In
big busine S the personal relation is
impossible and he urged the necessity
Of doing through organ zation, Where
there is a trade union he thought that
a shop association should be formed
with spokesmen to represent the en-
ployes
The greatest prob EN- confronting
the employers at the present time, he
aid Is to devise a plan for continuity
Of employment Unemployment for
long periods brings chaos, subversion
Of law and order and other conditions
not des 'rable for employer or employe.
He urged that employees be given
shore in shop management as a right
I'm improving conditions of living and
standards of life. He also said that
hte housing problem is not yet settl-
ed and must he met again as soon as
revives. He spoke in favor
of practically unlimited freedom OF
speeCh not because all OF y was soou,
hut because It is better to have the evil
part of it out IN the sunshine where 1t
can he observed and under7tood ra'
ther than hurrowing underground,
He favored restricting and supervis'
ing immigration but not stopping 1t en-
tirely. This country needs. a con-
siderable inflow Of desirable emigrants
to offset losses and returns. He said
that conditions ard prospects are bet
ter in the United States than in Eng
land or other European countries
though industrialism is older and
few of their problems may be better
understood on that account.
Following tho address there were
more questions than at the earlier
meetings Of the Forum.