South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-11


sees him progressing from the linden
To-day finds the labOrer striving
persistently for his natural rights as
a human being for the same Unre-
stricted liberties and the same free
dom Of action as his employer. The
conditions Of the struggle are diff
ferent from those Of other coun-
tries. but the problem IS the same.
To secure these natural rights. the
lahorer has associated himself with
his fellow workingmeu in the labor
union. He is holding himself out.
not as an isolated, on-essential unit
Of society. but as an integral part OF
al Industrial orga nization, the pro-
duct of which is necessary for the
worlds existence. The employers
who refuse TO recognize the labor
union are by no means uncommon.
In the Srst Industrial conference,
convened at Washington BY Pres't
Wilson. representatives Of the lead
ing associations of employers were
gathered. a majority vote refused to
recognize the right OF collective bar
gaining.
Methods of Unions.
The two methods found most eff
fective by labor unions are collect
i've bargaining and the strike. IL is
the use of these methods that arous-
es most of the opposition TO the labor
unions Collective bargaining may
be defined as the process by which
p the workers as a group make agree
; ments with the employers. 1t was
f~rh 90 ~nfTnr4Frra h1 r1f IN
) ing that the first industrial con-
ference was broken up. The repre-
} sentatives Of the employers associa-
= tions were willing 10 allow employees
TO form unions. but they took the po-
= sition that an emploer should have
+ the right 10 insist on doing business
: only with labor Representatives who
were his own employees.
The employers said:
, we accept the principle of col
lective bargaining, but we reserve
the right to decide whether we shall
deal with representatives of the
, workers Who are chosen from outside
the particular establishment for
which the bargain was made The
,, labor party contended that this res
ervation destroyed the essential ele-
ment in coUectiveS bargaining The
history Of collective bargaining. they
said. assumes not merely that we
shall bargain as a group through
our Representatives. but that we
shall choose whatever representa-
tives we deem most efficient
Both Sides Err.
LAS a further argument against
the unions. employers have charged
the workers with using their power
wrongly. Labor organizations have
been accused of breaking their con-
tracts. making excessive demands.
calling unnecessary strikes, refusing
TO arbitrate. disregarding the welfare
OF the public and restricting produc-
ton. We shall not attempt 10 deny
those charges. Let us be fair. how
g ever. and look at some of the Of
fenses which employers have COM
mitted. For every wrong done by
the employees. two are done by the
employers They have broken theiI
labor contracts time and again. II
labor has been extreme in demand
, ing a six-hour day. what shall We
say OF the employer who requires
4 his men 10 work u 20 Il hours a
day? II strikes OF the working men
have been unnecessary, what shall
, We say Of the employer who has
paid starvation wages because the
workers could rot help themselves?
such. in brief, Is the cause for
the labor union. Should certain en-
= ployers prevail in their contention
b that labor has no right 20 organize.
- il is only fair 10 presume that the
I wage Garner will be the victim OF a
one-sided bargain. The well being
p OF the worker demands collective
bargaining. as opposed 20 individual
= bargaining. The purpose Of the Ia
3 Dor union is 70 secure collective bar
gaining Labor's need for organiz-
, Cd action is indeed the economic and
, moral justification OF the union"
CLARK'S SECOND SPEECH
Mr.. Huguenard was followed by
Worth Clark, OF Pocate,lo, Idaho.
Before coming 70 Notre Dame Clark
studied a. Columbia. a prep school
under the direction OF the Commun-
ity OF the Holy Gross. He was a
member of the varsity debating team
OF a year ago. and never participat-
, ed in a losing argument. He viii
graduate with an A. 3. His Grafton
in part follows;
Closed Shop Case.
IF We follow through the centu-
ries. the struggle OF the wage earn
or for his rights. we are impressed
. By the fact that as an individual he
has ben helpless before the power
OF organized capital Man for man,
The worker has never been a match
for MS employer This inequality
has given power 20 the employers.
ana their abuse OF IL IS written on
every page Of economic history.
Now. however. he must halt. Cap
ital TOO. has awakened, and realiz-
ing that its tyrannous position is
menaced by unionism, IL has pooled
| its merciIess dollars and grimly
launched a campaign 20 stamp out
the trade union forever. War has
been declared in industry
4 IL -