New-York tribune., 1922-05-02
Attorney Cites Plan to
Preserve Strike and
Wage Rights, Yet Halt
Outlaws Malpractices
Unions Would Re
licensed by State
Commission 40 Pass on
Bylaws and Review
Complaints Of Workers

Samuel Unterryer offered for the
tlrst time last night his conception Of
the labor union regulation which he
deems necessary in the interests of
public policy and safety in view of the
abuses among building trades organiza.
t1ons recently revealed before the
Lockwood legislative housing commit
tee OF which he is chief counsel.
Speaking to members Of Paul Revere
Lodge in Terrace Garden he said his
| idea Of The form Of regulation would
nave none of the terrors that are in
VOWED in the word ~rcguation" as
seen from the point Of view of labor
| leaders 1t does not involve enforced
incorporation of the unions, he assert.
ed, but expressly reserves all the pres
ent rights of the unions to strike and
all other rights now secured to them bv
the law that do not conflict with public
poilcy, public safety and prosperity 1t
would be purely administrative.
There are many labor unions said
Mr., Untermyer, "among them the moro
prosperous, that are under the guiding
hand of men of vision and that are
free from grave abuses. They would
not be affected by regulatory Iegisla-
ton. The others must be regu lated to
save them from emselves Organized
labor should champion moderate rcgus
latory measures. If it fails to do SO
it's abuses viii keep pace with its in
creasing power. No man or body Of
men hes yet been discovered that is so
far above the temptations that are IN
cident TO human frailty as to be able
to be a law unto themselves without
abusing that power and eventually
bringing down upon themselves the
wrath of the community, resulting in
the most rigorous Kind Of restrictive
laws
Friend OF Organized Labor
As lifelong friend of organized
! labor Mr.. Untermycr said he was en-
| hcarl;en to his advice Samuel
Gompers, president Of the American
Federation Of Labor he said, knew
something of his contributions 70 the
cause Of labor. and how for years he
had insisted that the workers were not
receiving their just share of the Vsealth
! they produced, and that but for or
ganized labor their lot would be one
of misery and virtual serfdom. ~
know" he asserted. "and he knows
that know. Of the fierce uphill strug-
giles OF organized labor against the
ever increasing power Of organized
capital and what it has done for the
workers"
In reviewing The numerous abuses
| shown to be practiced by many labor
bodies in the building trades. Mr.
Untermyer made some reference to the
! New York Stock Exchange, which, he
! said, "was still operating above and be-
| yond the law. and has thus far, TO our
humiliation be it said, remained i'm
mune from legal rcstraint.'
at is making desperate efforts he
| added "to correct the evils within its
own organization, but 1t has not sue
! cccded and will not succeed in CON
verting itself from a gambling den
into the worlds great security market.
which it should be, until compelled to
do So Its day Of reckoning is near at
| hand
Would Reserve Unions Right
Mr.. Untermycr nut forward his union
regulation ideas as follows:
"The form of regulation that | have
! in mind would expressly reserve all
/ the present rights of the unions to
strike and all other rights now secured
! to them by the law that do not conflict
with public policy and public safety
and prosperity. They would be IN the
first instance purely administrative and
would involve;
90 The submission by each union
! Of its constitution and bylaws for
approval TO state commission and
| the granting to it of license, if an
unincorporated association. If they
contain nothing that is contrary to
! public policy
"(2) The right Of member Of the
/ union to review any determination or
/ his union that he believes to be un-
! just TO him.
"G3) The right of any person feeling
agrrieved by the action Of the union
to a like review
"(4 The right of any complainant
having a Just grievance against the
rules. practices and regulations of q
union to have such abuses abated. be-
ing in this respect somewhat analo,
gous to the present authority OF the
! Federal Trade Commission TO prevent
unfair business practices among cor
porations engaged in interstate busl-
ness.
"(5) The privilege to either party TO
. controversy before the commission
to appeal to the courts from It's de-
cison.
"Such regulatory body would be
1 CONTINUED on page three)