The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-02
Labor Code
Harding Idea
By DAVID nAwREHCB
Copyright by The In.elllg.ncer)

Washington Aug when the two
big strikes pending ara settled the en-
tire question OF industrial relations VIII
Re tackled by President Harding and
Senator Borah. chairman q, the Senate
COMMITTEES on Labor. In an effort 70 draw ,
Up code OF principles that can be en-
forced
The President outlined such code In !
hts message 10 Congress last December
and Senator Kenyon OF Iowa who vas
then chairman OF the committee on La .
cCr introduced a bill which IS sttll be- !
fore the committee even though Mr.. Ken !
yon has resigned to go on the federal
bench. Other proposals have been made
along the same line and Senator Borah
visited President Harding the other
day 70 get his Views on the kind OK |
lexiSlation that would meet his APPROX
al Mr.. Harding promised 20 go into
the question thoroughly with senator
Borah just as soon as the present strike
situation Is cleared up.
The truth OF the matter is that al
rho,Eh the rail and coal strikes cannot
re cured by legislation at the moment .
several issues have been raised which
will again cause embarrassment 10 the
public welfare unless settled. Both the
Z
course that much more can be acorn-
r,tshed In the calm moments after the
industrial storm OF this summer then II
proposals were TO affect the particular
controversy % tho hour
Presidents Viewpoint
The Presidents viewpoint on the ne
cessity OF regulated industrial COM
nunity Is expressed IN his own words
thus:
AS We have got bodies ot law care
fully regulating the organization and
operations OF industrial and financial
rS-cn-a,iors as We have treaties and
compacts among nations which look to
tho settlenen, Of differences without
the necessity OF conflict in arms. so we
might well have plans Of conference.
Of common council. OF mediation. arot-
tratIon and judicial determination In
controversies between labor and capital.
To accomplish this would Involve the
necessity 70 develop thorough COINS
code Of practice in dealing with such
affairs. II might be we'll 10 frankly
So, forth the superior interest OF the
community as whole 70 either the
labor group or the capital group. Win
rights privileges. immuntties. ana
modes % organization thus careruiIE
defined il should be possible 10 set up
mdicial or quast-jud'cial tribunals TOT
the consideration and determina ton OF
all disputes which menace tho public
welfare"
t. Fundamental.
"-he right Of labor 10 organize Is
s,,., as fundamental and necessary as
= the right OF capital 70 organize. the
right OF labor 70 negotiate 20 deai with
and solve its particular problems IN an
c-za,izsd wav. through its chosen
agents IL Just essential as is the right
- eapi,al to organize. 20 MAINTAIN cor
ions % limit the liabilities OF
,raeyrolders Indeed. We have como 20
rscosrixA that the limited ltae'iities OF
ne citizen as member Of labor Or
sanitation closely parallels the lmita-
-, ~ liability OF a citizen as a stock
holder IN a corporation for TroHt. Along
his ure Of reasoning we shall MAKE
,re greatest progress toward soIu-
-, Of our problem OF capital and
labor.
~, -. ras. ~ the corporation which
Anioys the privilege Of limited liability
~ stockholders particularly when en-
xared IN the public service II Is recos-
rlsed that the outside public mas a
larze concern which must be protecten'
and so we provide regulations restr'c-
t,ors and In some cases detailed super
vision Likewise in tho case or iaoor
orgs,izarions We might well apply SIM
uar and equally well defined principles
oP regulation and supervision IN oruer
- conserve the public interest as ar
fsr,ad by their operations. Just as "
,s No, desirable that corporation
shall be allowed u impose undue cNao-
tons upon the public so It - not ae
sirable that a labor organization snail
be permitted 20 exact unfair terms OF
s1,nlov-rerr or subject the public 70
actual dlstresses in order 70 enforce 's
terms"
The Difficulty.
Tba sirTiculty thus far In Industrial
-.latiors has been that some OIL 'he
-i,.i,Ias which Mr. Harding avows as
fundamental have not been aScep'eu
-. nani,aI and labor conference held
u,,bI,r,on under the last admin
fs,r..,on was wrecked at the very start
Nv rnen Ike l.. F. Lores-a factor oy
m, way In the present rail StriNe-
hecaus. the principles "f collective par
raIninv through labor unions VAS DEM
al offensive Much water has gone over
,ha dan, since that conference ou' 'n@
,vs,,~S raised then are s'tiI unSe'Ueu
epd ~ ar agreement could nave oeen
-a,cbed then Some o. the recent con-
Kpiracies to break unioniSm "ou'a noS
bava gained much ground IN rSct OF
rr,als here think these EFFORTS 10 oreaN
down recognized principles OF INC
tight OF men 20 organize have "on'r'
hu,sd not little 20 tne lnn"s,' ID
crists this summer. President ttaru'ns
means 70 put his influence oeh'nn =
cod. or character that Will nave SUI
eclert sustained fore" OF law ana pu0''"