New-York tribune., 1921-10-02
Nelson Blanles
Union Labor for
Unemployment
Senator Scores Insistcnce OF,
Wartime Wages: Says 1t
revenfs Nationwide
Revival in Industry
Would Defy Rail W orkers
Predicts if They Quit Work
People Would "Wipe
Them OFF Face Of Earth

From The Tribuue's Washin ston Bureau
WASHINGTON, Oct 1.-The att-
tuic Of union labor in refusing to ac-
cent lower wages and "a reasonable
basis of employment" was sharply
criticised on the floor of the Senate to-
6sy by Senator Knute Nelson. Of Min
nesota, chairman Of the Judiciary Com
mittec. Senator Nelson ascribed un-
employment in this country to-day
,hietly TO what he held to be excessive
demands Of organized labor in the
building trades and in various indus
'ries.
Senator Nelson criticised especially
nc railroad employees, who arc threat
ming strike. 81. is time,' he ssid,
that ne taught these men a Lesson
that trey are not bigger than the
government of the United States" He
aredicted if the men struck the people
would wipe them "from the face Of the
earth"
inc Senator's speech was delivered
during consideration OF the building
and loan section Of The tax bill. lie
cid his colleagues he vas getting to
oe an old man, that he did not expect
. re with them very long and he felt
st liberty to express his "nonest con-
Tictions.'
Wartime Wages Demanded
"Cnion labor insists on wartime
wages, with the result that the only
ones who build in these times Of high
cost of labor are those who are actu-
ally driven as matter of necessity
10 d. So said Senator Nelson. 'If
he men engaged in the building trades
the carpenters. the bricklayers, the
masons and the plastcrers-would come
down 10 reasonable and fair wages we
would see the greatest building boom
that has ever been experienced in this
country and there would not be an idle
mechanic in the building trades to-day
Where, however, b-icklayers, masons
and other artisans are asking for 81
70 $3.50 per hour, although in many
Instances they refuse to do the maxi
mum work they ought to do, they are
retarding building in this country
"ty opinion ls there is nothing that
30 retards industrial revival in this
country as the attitude of organized |
labor in refusing to come down to /
reasonable wages and a reasonable !
basis OF employment. All over the |
United States we are suffering because |
of that situation
''1n the case OF transportation the
railroads are unable to reduce the rates !
because OF the high cost OF operation |
arising from excessive wages which t
rheiv operatives demand on the same !
esle that they were accustomed to |
receive during the war. during the ad- |
ministration Of Mr.. McAdoo as director |!
general" /;
Senator Nelson declared continued /
high freight rates would mean failure !
OF Industry to revive and continued |
handicap On the farmers.
Bricklayers Ask Sl4 a Day
Il was told by the junior Senator
from New York, Mr.. Calder, that brick |
layers in the city Of New York were |
asking sl4 d day for eight houra' work. !
We all know that the unions do not |
allow men to do the maximum amount |
30 many bricks day, or to do so much |
sork along other lines a day and no |
more.
IF We could get labor and the build
ing trades at fair and reasonable wages |
and men would exert themselves as |
they did IN the old times, you would |
see the greatest building boom that !
you have ever seen in this country.
| am friend of the laboring man,
but am afraid We are threatened with |
aoleness III this country and lack Of |
employment, and these men are them
selves TO blame If there is any lack |
OF employment"
Senator Nelson advised employees in I
me building trades to come down to |
"a or 50 a day instead Of charging so |
% so. be also urged that railroad !
employees who are threatening st-ike |
come down to reasonable wages. He |
sa'd the farmer had TO submit TO lower |
',eures. Farm labor also had come |
We are nov threatened with rail- !
road strike. They have taken the vote,
IND they are posing ss ready to take |
tne whole country by the throat again, !
As they were at the time the Adamson !
~ prevailed. Let me tell you q little
.hciaent. You ali know tnat was born
IN the little mountain country Of Nor
~sy. 1t IS poor country anc nearly I
a. its railroads are owned by the gov
erument They are operated by the |
gore rnment. Last winter the en-
2loyees concluded TO have a railroad !
s,sike there. They undertook to tie up !
q the railroads in that country. What |
happened1 Tine business men in the !
sities and the nigh officials Of the rail
soac5 managed 70 operate enough
trans In the country 20 carry the mail !
snd bring supplies and provisions into
're cities, 30 that there was no suffer
iTz and they let the strike go on, the
Stri1ers all the time threatening, ali
*ne time desiring 70 negotiate with the