Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-05-01
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND
LIVING WAGE FOR LABOR

Speaking at Stamford Sunday evening
before the Connecticut Conference on So
cial Work. the Rev. John A. Ryan. D. D.,
OF the Catholic University Washington,
D. c.. in pointing cut the need for coop
GRAFTON between capital and labor. said in
part:
''The problem OF cooperation between
the two classes IS not a problem of re-
moving all antaeonisms and all diver
gent interests. That cLpiect is simply I'M
attainable. Rather is the problem that
of reducing the elements Of conflict to
their lowest Dimensions and increa sing.
so far as practicable. the elements o.
common interest. AT present the en-
phasig Is placed nv both parties upon
their mutual sntagonisms. What IS need
ed and what is possible is a shifting o.
some OF this emphasis TO the interesti
which empower and employe have IN
common. 1t is absolutely necessary that
they should concentrate more attention
upon objects and policies which would
benefit both. and lessen the attention
which they giveto their separate and op-
posing interests
THE first act in a program of recon
citation is to remove certain powerful
obst acles, These are not confined to one
party. Fer some of them labor is rcspon-
Sbie; for others the blame lies upon
capital. On the side o. labor. the princi-
pal hindrances to a cooperative policy
are certain restrictive practices of the
unions; namely, restriction of output,
limitation of apprentices. and disputes
concerning certain kinds of work which
are claimed by more than one craft or
trade. In his testimony before the Lock
wood investigating committee in New
York a few days ago, Samuel Gompers
admitted that such practices are real
and costly evils, and expressed the hope
that an end would be put to. such abuses
by the unions themselves. All true
friends of labor and of the unions will
Join with Mr.. Gompers in this hope, and
viii indulge the further hope that the
correction, which is long overdue, will
be carried out in the near future.
ION the side OF capital, the principal
obstacle to reconciliation is organized
and widespread opposition to labor union
ism, and its necessary methods and poll
cies. The open shop movement was and
is a hypocritical attempt to cripple the
unions under the glise of promoting free
dom of contract in industrial relations
point, no progress towards genuine CO.
operation between it and labor is posi-
/ BILE.
There are two outstanding methods of
cooperation which are immediately feas-
i ible, and which would lead to other ways
and means Of promoting this most de-
| sirable object. The first is really i'm
I piled in the removal of the obstacle con-
| sidered in the last paragraph If those
| industrial combinations. concerns. and
/ individuals that have been attempting to
i cripple the unions through the open
shop movement were to abandon this
policy, they would naturally and easily
be willing to adopt the practice of ade-
quate collective bargaining. That is to
say, they would deal with their organ
/ lied employees through representatives
| freely chosen by the employees them
selves. This might mean selection of the
| national officers of the unions, or selec-
| ton of persons employed in the plant or
industry which is concerned in tho nego-
tiations. The essential thing is that the
employer should not restrict or interfere
with the free choice by the workers OF
men to represent them in making the Ia
Dor contract. Nothing less than this is
adequate collective bargaining. or will &C
complish anything towards better rela-
tons between the two classes.
THE other immediate requisite is
frank and general recognition by capital
of the right OF labor to a living wage 1t
is now thrty-one years since Pope Leo
NIIt reafnrH1ed TINS. great moral prlncf-
! pie. Nevertheless, it has not yet been &C
cepted, least in It's necessary -impli-
cations, by more than an insignificant
fraction of our great Industrial corpora
tons, Within. the last year, it has been
either explicitly or implicitly rejected By
tho great meat-packingi industries. tho
| railroads and several powerful conceffc
| in the textile industry To talk Of indus
J trial peace or mutual cooperation be-
tween capital and labor until the princi-
| pie of tho. living wage is recognized, is
pure waste of energy and time,
RidgeheId-Ernest Scott who has done
| work for Albert H. Wigwin. John H. Lynch
| William Bunker on their estate in. Ridge
field, has purchased hleck of loropertv
| on MIN street consisting of two dwell
ings, two garage and two buildings all of
: which are being rerpcged.to make wa y. for
the new cost Office. and Dther stores.