South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-22
]. S. FAVORS PLAN
OF ROUND TABLE
TO END DISPUTES
Cancellation Head of Depart
ment Outlines Advantages
of Practice.
BY HUGH =. KERW1N.
Director United States Cancellation
Service. Department 81 IabOr)

Director United States Cancellation
Service. Department 81 IabOr)
Especial 90 The News-Timc~1
WASHINGTON Feb. Zl-Ihe 4
question of the relationship between F.
ne employer and employe ls Moth /
ng more or less than the question I
- mans relationship 20 man and as 4
TAR back as history records the
worker and the man for whom he ,
works have been troubled in arriv- I
~ az a solution Of this greatest OF /
ST. economic problems.
IN the early days of our republic [
when industry was iu a formative
stage and the population Tor tne
most part located within confines OF
what is now but a small portion OF
our present domain. labor troubles
were few and far between. the rea-
son being that our industrial enter
prises in those days consisted all to-
zether OF small shops or factories
under the personal supervision ana
mana cement Of the owner
on the other hand mechanics em-
pioyed at these establishments were
generally workers skilled ln their
trade or calling and able 20 perform
all or any part Of the work In the
bailding or whatsoever the plant
turned out
Required New Changes.
From the tree in the woods on
through The various stages until the
wood boo the tree came out through
the doors ~ the little shop or fac
tory I'm the form of a wagon, every
man who had to do with It's manu-
facture had contributed his part i'm
the making of every part Of the
wagon. and the essential thing the
fine spirit that existed between the
employer and employe grew out of
the fact that the owner Of the plant
worked side by side with his work
ers, knew all of his people. and
thereby contributed that personal
touch which in later years has been
lost 20 American industry.
AS our population increased with
It's increasing demand for the out
put from mill and factory. both for
the use of our own people and for
export trade. these Industries grew
slowly a first it is true-but IN later
years with a rapidity which made
Il necessary n complete revolution in
their conduct and management.
With the American inventive gen
Jus continuously at work perfecting
machines TO simplify and increase
the output in all branches Of indus
try. there came the specialist-the
worker who is now forced, for rea-
sons Of increased production. 90
o0nhne his labor to making q par
ticular part OF the wagon or other
product of the plant until the finish
ed article in later years is the com
bined effort of scores of workers.
each making the small parts. per-
haps I'm plants situated many miles
apart. these units being brought to-
Eether and assembled into the COM
pleted product.
The Personal Touch.
The personal touch which Contri-
buted toward the fine feeling be-
tween the worker and his employer
- no longer possible. Great manu-
featuring plants with thousands Of
workers. with managers. superin-
feudents. and foremen. have de-
stroyed the spirit Of association
which obtained I'm the past. Associa-
tions OF manufacturers and trade
unions. increasing as the years go
on. present new problems to. be
solved, such as wages. hours e ser
vice. output. and many others too
numerous TO mention.
Many OF the present day employ
ers object 10 and will not deal with
labor unions: others recognize ard
deal with trade unions. while still
others though having no direct deal
ings with unionized workers. yet
have no objections TO their workers
amuating with such unions
All sorts OF conditions are met
with in the conduct. from a man
agerial standpoint. OF our great bust
ness enterprises-mauy and complex
are the agreements i'm existence be-
tween the workers and the employ
ers.
Agreements I'm modern industry i'm
America are generally for a stated
period ContractuaI relations be-
tween employer and employs are for
the most part reugiously lived up 10
by both the worker and his employ
err.
The American working man has
developed into the most efficient
worker in the world. and his daily
output on the average exceeds that
OF the worker of any other country.
The American manufacturer has de-
veloped into the most wonderful
genius i'm world industry. and surely
with this combination IL would seem
that a community Of interest should
obtain that which would make for un-
broken and profitable employment
and for reace i'm American business.
The Bic Problem.
The great problem comes after
production division of that which
has been produced. There arise diff
ferences Of opinion between en-
ployer and empIoye. contention as
10 wages. hours of employment.
grievance committees. conditions OF
labor. bargaining, and many others
Vow instead Of preCipitating
strikes or loCkoIts why not s.t down
like sensible business men around a
council table and .n spirit ~ I'M
derSardirg and goodwill settle the
vase and other differences on as
nearly am equitable basis as the in
dustry VIII permit This is the CON
citation way-this IS the common
sense way.
II IS conceded shat independent
arbitration commissions. shop COM
mitters. adjustment boards and Joint