South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-12
BY JOHN L. LEWIS.
President OF the United Mine workers
of America.

honorable means or reaching set
Element Of differences has failed, is
a cardinal principle Of the United
Nine Workers Of America. But they
hold armly and determinedly 10 the
wel!-esta blished principle OF the
right Of workers TO organize and 10
deal collectively with their employ
ers. When this right is denied or
attacked the miners stand ready to
engage in industrial battle for the
maintenance Of that right
The right Of workers TO organize
is fundamental II has been pro-
nounced and affirmed by the govern
ment. by the last four presidents,
the Congress. the courts, by state
legislatures. by the press. the pulpit.
by civic bodies everywhere and by
the public
Theodore Roosevelt, while presi-
dent Of the United States in 1902,
said: Il believe emphatically in
organized labor. I believe in organ
izations Of wage workers. Organ
ization IS one Of the laws Of our So
cial and economic development at
this time
Chief Justice Taft, before his cleo
ton to the presidency, said: What
the capitalist. who is the employer
Of labor, must face is that the or
ganization OF labor-the labor un-
ions a permanent condition IN the
industrial world. It has come TO
stay. If the employer would con-
suit his own interest he must admit
this and act on 1t. Under existing
conditions the blindest course that
an employer of labor can pursue is
10 decline to recognize labor unions
as the controlling force in the labor
market and to insist upon dealing
only with his particular employees.
Time and again one has heard
the indignant expression Of a man
ager of some great industrial enter
prise. that he did not propose TO
have the labor unions to run his
business; that he would deal with
his own men and not with outsid-
ers. The time has passed I'm which
that attitude can be assumed with
any hope of successfully maintaining
it,"
During the war emergency Mr.
Taft served as joint chairman OF the
war labor board, and it Is interest
ing 70 note that after his experience
in that work he said, on Aug. 3,
1919: Labor unions have been
necessary to secure TO the individual
workman an opportunity 10 deal with
his employer on an equality and
free from the duress of the immedi-
ate want Of daily wage, TO demand
what ne regards as an adequate and
just return for his labor. or to with
draw from employment"
Hughes Speaks Up.
And this from Charles Evans
Hughes. now secretary of state, in
an address at Colum bia university.
on Nov. 30. 1918: Il trust there
will be no more struggle i'm futile
opposition TO the right OF collective
bargaining on the part Of the en-
ployes. The recognition OF the right
of representation and the prompt
hearing of grievances provides the
open door to reasonable and just set
| Elements. And in returning TO
/ peace conditions there should be the
utmost care to preserve every pos
sible means which has been found
/ helpful during the war for the IN
vestigatlon Of complaints of labor
and for the adjustment of demands
Employers Of Importance and vi
! sion concede the right Of the work
ers to organize. Thus John D
/ Rockefeller jr.. said in the Annals
/ Of the American Academy of Poll
\ teal and Social Science, January,
1919: AS regards the organization
/ OF labor, it is just as proper and ad
/ vantageous for labor 10 associate it.
/ self into organized groups FOR the
/ advancement of its legitimate inter
ests as for capital 20 combine for
I the same objects"
J. y. Tittenmore. a member Of the
/ Employers Group IN the presidents
/ first Industrial conference. October
1919. said. 80 far as I am con-
| cerned. l am committed in my mind
and in my very soul 10 unionism as
+ il Is expressed by the administrative
faculty OF the American Federation
OF Labor; and IN saying that, my
| friends, I do not sanction ultra-radi-
( caIism."
Harry A. Wheeler. former presi-
dent Of the chamber Of commerce OF
the United states and another mem
Der of the Employers Group In the
First Industrial Conferences said;
I'VE freely accord the place OF the
trade and labor unions In those or.
CARNATIONS which the men have the
right to join
Right of Workers.
The chamber Of commerce OF tbs
United states in us referendum No
p on a report on principles Of in
dustrial relations. declared; The
right OF workers 10 organize Is a!
clearly recognized as that OF any
other element or part CT the com
munity."
The labor provisions OF the peac'
treaty affirm the right OF associa
ton for ali lawful purposes by th'
employed as well as by the employ
err"
Twenty-six states have enacted
laws specifically legalizing trade IN
ions and prohibiting discharge o.
ground OF membership therein. The!
are Colorado. Connecticut. Illinois
Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts,
/ Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska. New
Hampshire. New Jersey, New York
North Dakota. Ohio. Oregon, Penn
sylvania. South Carolina. Texas
Utah. Virginia. Washington, Wiscon
sin and Wyoming.
In the principles and policies o
v the war labor board. the right Z
organize was enunc!ated fl detaa
This declaration, worked out In con
ference between Representatives o
employers and employees. and giyel
the force OF law for the war emer
gency by presidents proclamation
was as follows: The right o