Middletown transcript., 1922-02-04
FOR LABOR BOARD
TO END DISPUTES
Kenyon Report Recommends
Creation of National Body
CONGRESS TO ENACT CODE
Opposes Compulsory Arbitration And
Relies On Public Opinion
Both Sides Are
Wrong.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of national
labor board to solve industrial disputes
was recommended to Congress by Sen
ator Kenyon, Of Iowa, in his report as
chairman of the special Senate COM
mittee which recently investigated
conditions in the West Virginia coal
mine war.
To back up this new board, Kenyon
also would have Congress pass an in
dustrial code which would clearly out
line the rights of capital, labor and
the public in labor troubles.
Compulsory arbitration by the board
is opposed by Kenyon. Using the pro-
posed national industrial code as its
basis, the board would make a set of
findings in any dispute, which would
be published broadcast and enforced
by public opinion. No fines or penal
ties are provided.
The new board, somewhat similar to
the Railroad Labor Beard, would be
composed of three representatives of
employees, three of workers and three
of the public, all to be appointed by
the President.
Kenyon drew up this list of labor
principles, which, he said, should be
sanctioned by Congress:
Capital prudently and honestly in
vested in the coal industry should
have an adequate return.
The rights of the operators and
miners to organize and to bargain col
lectively through representatives of
their own choosing is recognized and
affirmed.
Human standards should be the con-
straining influence in fixing the wages
and working conditions of minework-
ers.
Miners who are not members of the
union have right to work without be-
ing harassed by their fellow -workmen
who may belong to unions.
Six days shall be the standard week
eight hours a day.
Punitive overtime shall be provided
for hours worked in excess of the
standard work day.
When a. dispute or controversy
arises there should be no lockout or
strike pending conference or hear.
ing and determination of the facts and
principles involved.
In his report, which delves into the
entire question of capital and labor as
they affect each other, and the public.
Kenyon charges:
l. The Kansas Industrial Court is
a complete failure, and that all courts
of compulsory arbitration always have
been failures.
2. Notifications of the West Vir.
ginia situation prevail in other parts
of the country.
8. Both miners and operators are
responsible for the present West Vir-
ginia condition.
4. Mine operators are fighting un-
fairly to prevent unionization of the
miners.
S. Miners are fighting unfairly to
ostracize nonunion labor.
6. All are frequently violating the
law.
THE issue is perfectly apparent"
Kenyon stated. "The operators in this
particular section of West Virginia
openly announce they will not employ
men belonging to the unions. On the
other hand, the United Mine Workers
are determined to unionize these fields,
which are practically the only large
and important coal fields in the United
States not unionized.
Both believe they are within their
rights-whereas both are wrong, and
working against the public Both have
been forgetful of the great third party
the public-which has a vital inter-
est in preserving industrial peace,
especially in region that furnishes
the percentage of coal that this region
does.
Courts of compulsory arbitration
have never been success. Nations
that have tried them generally are
willing to admit that the system is a
failure. ! do not want to be critical
of a State. but personally it seems to
me the Kansas Industrial Court can.
not be 2 success because 1t has no
underlying code Of rules or principles
which are regulatory or mandatory
upon the court"