The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-10
THE LABOR PROBLEM.

The National Economic league Is an organ
ization composed OF what Is considered tho best
minds OF the nation. Leading publicists In each
state are elected by a more or less popular
referendum to membership in the league and TO
positions on the various committees through
which tho league functions for the purpose OF
discussing and finally arriving at a decision with
reference to the most outstanding problems be-
fore the American public.
The league has Just completed a referendum
on the subject known as the labor problem. ny
direction OF It's executive committee this sub
ject was selected as one OF the most pressing
before tho public and n series of 12 questions
was propounded to the membership which. as
stated above. is composed of the best minds Of
all vocations In the various states
It Is Interesting. we hope instructive. to study
the result Of this move. Only few of the more
important questions be considered In the
limited space OF an editorial.
Tho second question reads, should employees
share In the profits of Industrial undertakngsH"
Tho voto this question was s5 per cent for
tho affirmative and Is per cent for tho mega
tive. indicating quito clearly the trend OF major
thought regarding this basic proposition
The next question Is suggestive of intelligent
sequence, should there be n general accept
ance OF union recosntion?" The vote Is 50 per
cent affirmative, 80 negative. showing the lack
of courage and logical thought on the part of
some OF those who voted affirmatvely on the
first proposition. But the next question and
vote is even more uprising:
should there be active participation by em-
ployes or representatives OF employees In all
problems of management affecting the worker''
on this the vote is rs per cent affirmative. 20
you. OF prominent bankers manufacturers. edi.
tors teachers. lawyers. Judges. politicians and
minister's no less than labor leaders and crafts
But that recognition of tho union and shar.
ing the management with the worker cannot
be accepted as meaning what some OF the mos
radical would have It mean. the setting up OF q
labor oligarchy, is abundantiy evidenced by the
next question and the vote upon It. This ques
tion reads
SHOULD the open shop principle prevail ir
American Industrial nfe?" The vote is 90 pei
cent affirmative and only 10 per cent negative
We regret that space does no; permit us to Civ,
the personnel OF both committee and member
ship voting upon this questlon--on all thes,
questions. Suffice to say that about the same
proportion of union labor representatives votet
in the negative this question as there wer,
so-called capitalists voting in the negative oil
tho question recognizing tho unlon--showin,
both extremes and the disconcertng element Il
every undertaking looking to wise and fna
adjustment OF this enduring controversy.
Question six asks. should trade unions be in
corporated?" The vote is s6-l4 for: les
unanimous than could be hoped for or than tn
real merits OF the question justifies Behin
this question Is the altogether iustifable an
sound reasoning that with great power ther
must go equal responsibility. II tho trad
union Is to be recognized then II must becom
responsible. precisely as every other contr actin
party Is responsible. II we are to accord sue
an artificial organization a legal status. give
the right to make contracts. then 1t must be,