Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-10-02
Senator Blames
Organized Labor
For Lack of Work
Minnesota Republican
Launches Bitter Attack on
Trade Unions-Shouts de-
fiance to Rail Brotherhood

Chicago Tribune Omaha b~e Leased Wire.
Washington, Oct l.-Blame for in
dus,riai depression and unemploy-
ment was laid at the door OF organ
lied labor by Senator Knute Nelson
OF Minnesota, republican, in bitter
attack III the senate upon the trade
unions.
Senator Nelson charged that la
bor's refusal to accept reduced wages
was the chief obstacle TO an indus
trial and business revival. He shout
cd defiance at the railroad broth
erhoods and expressed the opinion
that it might be well for them to
carry out their strike threats in order
that the railroad controversy might
be brought to a showdown and def
nitely settled.
The Minnesota senator warmly
praised the recent decision OF Judge
Lands reducing wages in the build
ing trades in Chicago. He criticised
the unions for opposing the reduc-
ton.
when Judge Lands made rca-
sonable reduction for the building
trades in Chicago--it was very mod
crate and very reasonable-they pro-
tested and threatened to strike"
said Senator Nelson. Under such
conditions, if they find themselves in
idleness they are themselves to
blame"
Democrat Raps Wall Street.
Senator Nelson's attack aroused
the ire of Senator Hehin of Alabama,
democrat He placed responsibility
for present conditions upon wall
street" and warmly assailed the re-
publican administration for taking no
action to prevent the payment of
large salaries by the New York fed
cral reserve bank. The salaries paid |
to 80 officials in the New York bank,
he asserted, would equal the salaries
OF half the United States senate
and that of the president. Senator
Smoot of Utah, republican, stated
that he had complained to the federal !
reserve board of the salaries paid by |
the bank, but that he regarded the
matter as outside the power of con-
gress.
Senator Nelson's speech was de-
livered in the course of debate on
the tax bill.
"My opinion is there is nothing
that so rctards industrial revival in
this country as the attitude of organ
ized labor in refusing to come down
to reasonable wages and a reason
able basis of employment" said SEN
ator Nelson. "All over the United
States we are suffering because of
that situation.
Scores Railway Employees.
"In the case of railroad transport
tation, the railroads are unable to re-
duce rates because of the high cost
Of operation resulting from excessive
wages which their operatives demand
on the same scale that they were ac-
customed to receive during the war,
during the administration of Mr.. Nc
Adoo as director general.
Il was told by the junior sena-
tor from New York, Mr.. Calder, that
bricklayers in New York City were
asking $l4 day for eight hours
work. We all know that the union
does not allow men to do the maxi
mum amount of work, but they are
only allowed to lay so many bricks
! day.
There would not be many idle
men in this country today if union
abor would come down to rea-
sonable figure in conformity with
what is occurring in other lines of
business and until we reach a lower
evel of prices in connection with un-
on labor, until we get more effec-
i've service, it is hopeless to expect
| complete and fair revival of the
Industries and prosperity of this