Evening star., 1922-09-03
CAUSES OF THE UNREST. TODAY
In RANKS OF AMERICAN LABOR

81 f-s eE.s
to defend their principles, their standards OF
living and their organisations. ss,s7
What Is known as labor unrest today IL the
natural result Of definite set OF aggravatine
causes every one of which - rooted either In
greed for money or greed for power. When
the armistice was signed csrtain empowers
thought they saw the way clear to re-estab-
lishment of complete autocratic control OF in
dustry and they set about II with deliberation
and with thoroughness to bring about that re-
establishment. n, f't'.. -. =
A Campaign of Resction.
Special organizations for the, promotion of
what is called the "open shop were created
throughout the country. Organizations already
in existence were linked together and COM
mitted to the campaign for industrial autoc-
racy Chambers Of commerce. which are not
at all industrial organisations, but which are
powerful business and financial organizations,
were asked to go on record ana TO join the
fight. This many Of them did under the lead
ership of the United States Chamber of Com
merce although. many Of them have since re-
GREETED their ILL advised reactionary declara-
tons
ORGANIZATIONS known associated indus
tries have been formed in most industrial
centers and have statewide organizations In
many states. An outstanding example of these
organizations is Associated Industries of In
dianapolis, which has been most militant in the
fight to destroy the trade unions.
Among national organizations which have
sought to propagate the autocratic idea in in
dustry. particularly in these last few years, is
the National Industrial Conference Board,
whose chief executive oh1cer. Mr.. Magnus
Alexander, is admirably fitted to guide the
destnies of an organization which has autoc-
racy as its goal and democracy as its intended
victim.
During this frenzy of organization among
reactionary employers the old-tme open
shop" anti-union organizations, such the
National Association of Manufacturers and the
National Erectors' Association, have sought to
revive their somewhat depleted membership
AS matter. of fact. the National Association
of Manufacturers has resorted to typical book
agent methods to secure members, many of
whom have no interest at all in the struggle to
destroy labor organizations. r.
Wanton Breach Of Agreement.
Another important factor in the situation
has been the wanton breach of agreement on
the part of great organizations of employers
The conduct Of certain organizations Of en-
ployers has been exactly parallel to the con-
duct of the l. W. W.. which does not believe
in the observance of agreements between en-
ployers and workers
There have been half-dozen notable ex-
amples of breach of agreement or contract byi
great organizations of employers within the
past twelve months. Two outstanding cases
those in the coal Industry and in the print
ing industry between the typographical Union
and the employing printers concerning the
forty-four-hopr week. In both OF these cases
the employers paid more heed to their
solemn agreements than If those agreements
had never existed.
Why the Miners Quit.
In the case of the miners a section in the
contract between the employers and the work
ers provided that prior to the expiration of
the contract there should be conferences for
the negotiation Of new contract The or
eanised mine owners ignored this stipulation
and refused to enter into negotiation for the
making of a new agreement, thus leaving the
mine workers at the expiration Of the old con-
tract without any terms of employment and
as a consequence they ceased work.
In the printing industry the organized en-
ployers had agreed that on a given date the
industry should go forty y-four-hour week
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