Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-10-01
Declares Labor Holds Inter
csis of Great Mass Of
! People.
ny Samuel Gompern.


- 1922. by the Wheeler Syndicate.
1nc)
Prospects for tho industrial flu
Irc OF the United States arc tho
thjcCt Of discussion everywhere. No
E'n or woman in America can cs-
EsS1 an interest and responsibility
E-Narding our future.
Ia the course OF these articles wo
have examined the causes OF the un-
Hst which has been 80 clearly man
Test and We have taken account Of
3cthOdS and policies which have pro-
mccd discord. We have done this at
time when the nation has been
tirr"d 10 profound depths by reasoH
d the stoppage Of work on the part
coal miners and railroad work
rs. Scientists know that certain
muses. can be relied upon 10 produce
certain cTccte. Having that in mind
would b" possible 70 answer the
question. What O! the FUTURE" by
aging that II there is an !nsistcnce
'p"n policies and practices which we
iavc seen TO be ruinous and pro
hctivc OF distrust and unrest In tho
'hSt there viii be Inevitably cor
ESp"nding distrust and unrest in
q future. II. on the other hand, tn.
ht'l!ty OF such methods and policies
= recognized aud more construc-
,'n attitude In adopted by thoec who
lrc responsible for the employment
policies In great Industries. there
p1ll DO y responding evidence Of
FOOD VIII on the part OF workers
.hich VIII prove profitable not only
p employers, but TO the country as
whole.
Hopeful Signs.
bettrv. | see signs OF improve
h.ut on tho horizon. believe the
IONS OF the workors has gpent It's
hrce. believe tho terrific, sweep
fS attack organized and conducted
IS powerful financial interests. and
y great OrSan!zations OF reaction
Ey employers operating In conjunc
son with great financial interests
pa been brought virtually 20 a stopI
p tho heroic resistance OF tho or
tailzed workers ard by the forces &C
Ei aroused and thoughtful public
p'inioA which has been arronted and
hj"rei by the brutal display q
s""r and unreaGon directed against
Bnur. Consider for moment these
acts.
Th" dominating factors In Amer
can industrial life AFRO the railroads
q" sice. Industry and tho coal in
lustry
Tho steel Industry abou, year
a
q wages OF approximately 20 per
'n' Observing what was trans
hrins ON tho railroads and In the
"A mines, and having an eye TO
Do iutur", tho steel trust has re-
r"T'! wages to tho level existing
''t"re the last reduction. or cours..
;" steel trust has not repaired III.
hmaE" done ~ the reduction. but
has az uuy rate restor-u wages to
D." hsurc existing prior 10 the re-
hc'ion. u has To that extent rec
r;nizei the end Of tho period OF
Mediation OF labor" and rctroEres-
ron.
Cont Operators Lone.
I" Tn" organized coal m!ne owns
y ~ tn" country have suffered In
Iip'ious defeat In their efforts To-
l"dur" tho wngcs OF the miners AZ
~ I. strike laetlns more than ave
rpn'hs. the mine workers have com
,eil"i the mine owners To abandon
NOR policy OF wage reduction TIA
ZION age speaks Of the outcome OF
u" strike hs The most brilliant VIC
pry the miners have ever won Tho
nine ownsrs have thus recognized
Pc end OF the period Of retrogres
ZION
~ the time this article is writ
ten II is apparent that tho railroads
,f Tho country arc about ready TO
Recognize the end OF the period of
htroGrcSsion. The recognition will
u course oe in spite OF the unlaw-
tii Injunction secured by Attorney
General Daugherty. and IT Will be in
pitc Of the most strenuous efforts
q the greatest financial powers in
Pc country 10 bring the railroad
hi'ns the point OF collapse.
>. St-Ec OF the largest employers
r the textile industry. who sought to
impose upon the workers wag.
deduction cf 20 per cent in addition
70 reduction OF 221-2 per cent
imposed year and half ago. hg,.c
poem compelled 10 abandon their ii
Pr's after "A strike Of moro than five
Honths. and the workers have re-
burned to their tasks In those fac.
pries At the wage existing prior TO
Pc strike. To that extent the en-
3loycrs In the textile industry havo
tecoGnizcd the end Of the period OF
bctrogression.
Whnt the Struggle Proved.
! am not SO optimistic as to say
pat we have before us pathway
Prc"h with roses, and that reaction
E's disappeared What can be said
that the organizations OF labor
lave proved their ability to resist
nc most FURIOUS and concentrated
ttacks. and that In SO doing thew
Ev" maintained for all tho workers
Z America standard OF living tina,
approaches equity, and they have
tept open the road OF constant i'm
E'Ovcmcnt
As i have pointed out. there de-
fHloped Immediately upon tho sign
hE of the armistice a vast concerted
ffort to reduce wages, lengthen the
bours OF labor and generally 10
pwcr the standards OF work
hg conditions. because the trade
nions continually sought the vigil
hnt barrier and because the trade
tnions continually sought the i'm
trOvemcnt and the elevation of the
conditions OF all the workers, their
destruction became necessity to
hosc who sought to deteriorate
Forking conditions. The war against
he organizations of labor was plan
led and conducted because of what
Pose organizations sought TO accom-
Slish. 1t was thesresult OF a crude
md ignorant greed which was entire
y without foresight and without un-
Outstanding.
Helps Country ns whole
| should like to attempt to make IL
Hear that in their struggle TO elc-
k,ta