Evening journal., 1922-12-16
LEE ASSAILS
LABOR COERCION
Says Letting Workers Have
Voice in Industry May
Quell Unrest
HONEST WHEN
TREATED FAIR

NEW YORK. Dec. 16-Elisha Lee
viee-president of the Pennsylvania
Railroad told the Associated Tech
nology Clubs at the Engineers Club
in % West Thirty-ninth street last
night that the main problem in re-
ducing costs, whether of products or
service, lies in obtaining the coloper-
alton OF labor. This. he said, has not
been forthcoming thus far with SUM-
Client readiness to make satisfactory
progress. He added:
1--WE have in this connection two
general factors to deal with. One is
the attitude of our labor unions, and
the other is the restriction OF immi-
grafton. The latter is a matter OF
public policy. Collective bargaining
in some form or another, is with us
and / for one see little likelihood OF
it's abandonment. II probably repre-
sents the only practicable basis by
which the labor relationships OF
large masses OF workers can be dealt
with and adjusted.
The thing is to distinguish be-
tween collective bargaining and coll
lective coercion. Unfortunately we
have a great deal OF the latter; so
much so that certain large and i'm
portant groups OF workers have been
able TO retain. in practical entirety.
the highest inflated wage scales
which prevailed during the war
period.
we must cure that condition by
process OF education. and by direct
ng the pressure Of public opinion
against the attitude OF those groups
pr workers who persist in substitut-
ng coercion for bargaining in their
collective relations with society.
Mr.. Lee said he felt that society
'ften is misled by the expressed de-
hands involved in concerted labor
movements, rather than the underly-
ng causes for these demands. II is
popular idea that the predominant
ng cause OF strikes is a desire for
increased wages, but Mr.. Lee said
hat as a matter of fact the element
4 wages is, in a large percentage OF
trikes, only injected after the or
-anization has been completed and !
for some time. He went |
N:
MANY strikes are called without
ny mention of wages at all. There
s a deeper cause than wages or
lours OF labor. I believe that the
.hief underlying cause OF labor un-
est making itself felt I'm the form
" labor unions or other concerted
abor movements is the human de-
dre to have an unoppressed voice in
III deliberations where labor policies
ire involved.
THE same spirit it seems TO me-
which has prompted men to over
hrow Kingdoms in the old country
rom time to time and fighting TO a
uccessful conclusion the revolution
~ war in our own country. Is quite
is pronounced in the hearts OF men
With regard to their industrial life. /
hey want to feel that they are a |
art of industry and have a right to /
e consulted and to have their views /
nd desires given thoughtful and |
consideration.
"There have been some expert
nents along this line in the form OF
,orking arrangements commonly
nown as "employe representation"
lans. where employees have been
iven unhampered right to select
to help mold the la
or policy, and as far as I have
cen able to learn, wherever man
cement threw the cards on the
able" and placed these men on
heir honor they have proved them
elves honest, thoughtful and prac-
cal.
ITO my mind no great progress
ill be made toward the elimina-
on of the present state of unrest
Mess we establish an effective sub
.itute for that old time condition
here the employe was in position
} present his point OF view direct
2 10 management and have It given
areful and sympathetic consider
ton"
Concerning the trend OF prices,
Ir. Lee continued:
THE people want. and IN some
ases are insistently demanding.
,wer prices for manufactured ar
cles and lower rates for service. I
his expectation cannot he realized
Mess we can find some means of
necting lower labor costs, either in
he form of readjusted wages in
reased production per man per
our or both. This arises from the
act that labor is not only the larg-
st individual item entering into the /
osts. but IL we analyze the cost Of
NY product sufficient. we shall find
hat labor represents ultimately
early all the cost.
Anthracite coal in the ground Is
vorth only few cents per toD-at
east that is the bases on which an
hracite bearing land is bought and
old. Anthracite in your cellar Is
7orth fifteen or sixteen dollars per
on. Practically all Of the difference
epresents wages or compensation
or labor or effort paid to differ
mt people handling the coal be
ween the workings of the mine and
he bin OF the consumer. In other
words. the cost delivered is largely
abor.
In the case of the railroads. their
wn payrolls constitute about 60
er cent. of the costs OF operation.
nd fuel and material costs. which