The Washington times., 1922-11-17

politan Nepos Service.
BY SAMUEL GOMPERS.
President Of tho f%ss,e'H h.S... F'd''a'''" Of
written for Cosmopoiitsn News Service.
I see some progressive tenden-
cies In industry. There are . few
who are idealists and still fewer
v no are idealists coupled with
practicability. Most people become
progressive as a matter Of abso-
lutte necessity--they are driven
into II by force of circ' mstan nces
and I believe that the progressive.
ness as 1t is being demonstrated
is more the result Of that condi-
ton than altruism.
The mos, prcg ressive OF en-
ployers in industry are those who
have come to agreement In col
lective bargaining with the organ
lied workers in tie unions Of
their trades and callings.
Some Employers Neutral.
There Is another group or type Of
employer who assumes the position
OF neutrallty-that IL. OF Indifference
as TO whether workers are organized
or unorganized. and who has feigned
10 call that condition tho "open
shop" Such employers were dis
inclined to join openly in the group
OF antagonists to any form OF organ
ization among tho working people
orga nizations OF a character where
the power OF expression would be
untrnmmeled and undominated by
employers.
All OF these instances Of com.
many unions and the 30 called open
.oward the right road. that OF es-
lations between workers and EN-.
loyers--that is, organization even
on both sides.
There is thought I want TO ex.
press which may AID in clearing up
sumcihing In regard To our point of
view in the un,on OF workers rather
than shop ar company unons.
Lack Free Expression.
In "A shop union or company
union, In addition 20 heing neces.
curly under the domination or in
fluencc OF the company. the EN-.
Movers through their supertntend'
ents, foremcn and others, the work.
ers have no opportunity for free
expression.
Coming to the point Of wages,
hours, and co iditlons or employ.
nent, IL may be true that com
pany by it's book account may not
be able to pay the prevailing rate OF
wa ges in the trade. based upon the
contract price which they have for
the production Of the output, but that
usually Is the result OF competitive,
Cut-throat bidding for the contract.
IL the Individual plant Is 10 be
taken as the criterion to determine
wages, the company may be peri act'
ly truthful In claitni & that IL IL un.
able 10 pay the prevailing late OF
wages and enforce prevailing condi'
ton OF employees. But true, X an
agreement is reached with that COM
pany upon the basis Of the lowest
contract price, then II is an uii'
warranted discrimination against
other compa 1ies against the whole
industry, the arrangements Of which
Undertake to pay the prevailing rate
of wages and carry out the hours
of labor. and conditions of employ
ment.
Sees Industries - Units.
The main ,enance of the Industrial
minimum standard. wages. hours
and CO Iditions, should be regulated
n the industry rather than In any
one plant or company, thus again
showing scientifically and In com
mon sense the establishment OF q
minimum wage in the Industry. the
maximum of good conditions, So far
as labor In concerned, that there
shall be q basis upon VIII .ch employ
RS may proceed In the competitive
field, based upon their opportunities
Of better management. better ma
chinery. higher and greater power.
There are people who may buy In
larger quantities and who may be
in q position to give ready cash and
have the genius of insisting upon the
latest tools, the highest developed
machinery. the most scientific ap.
pliances, best management, the least
possible waste. In the competition
between employers and business men
let them compete az to who can do
he best.
But so far rs hours and conditions,
where the human equation enters,
here must be fixed cost upon
which one employer must have no
advantage over the other.
II is coming more and more to that
., indnatru