New-York tribune., 1922-09-18
VIII Labor Help?


era of labor unions is at an end in
this country and the second is begin
ming. The instructive sympathy
that the bulk of Americans felt a
generation ago toward strike for
higher wages or better working con-
ditions has disappeared. In its place
now appear impatience that the
work of the world must be interrupt
cd by such private quarrel;ng and
downright hostility when these dis
putes threaten the welfare of the
general public.
The causes of the change are as
obvious as the result is certain. The
unions are no longer the under dog.
Many Of them are powerful aristoc-
racies, closely limited in member
ship, ably led, possessing great
financial resources. Witness the
United Mine Workers of America,
for example. All have gained level
of wages and working conditions
that makes their members the envy
Of workers the world around and es-
tablishes them as one of the most fa-
vored classes of the community. The
ovsralls man has overtaken or
passed the white-collar man. The
other reason flows from the growing
intricacy Of our modern social and
industrial organization. A coal strike
and railroad strike mean to-day
not just annoyance and delay but
freezing and starvation for great
cities. The danger from strikes in
any of the vital industries has be-
come overwhelming. 1t is looming
threat that cannot be ignored.
Now, to express this new attitude
OF the public and meet the dangers
involved a radical shift in our laws,
in our treatment of the unions, is
needed. The public mind is ready
for the change as soon as our legis-
latcrs can devise the ways and
means and develop the courage to
approach the problem boldly. Are
the unions awake to the change and
prepared to accede to it intelli-
gently? Not so far as the utter
ances of any of their leaders would
indicate.
1t is particularly disappointing to
find the American Federation of
Labor raising again the old argu-
lnent against the right of the United
States Supreme Court to declare
laws unconstitutional. There can be
no question of the value of this
power and of the public will behind
1t. lmpatience at times with itg
operation has never blinded the
American people to it's enormous
usefulness. 1t is peculiarly Amer,
lean plan of government, admirabl,
suited to our Federal system ane
we'll designed to hold our diverse ane
chaotic laws within single and vel
balanced theory of central rule. T,
abandon it is unthinkable.
The truth is that the union leader,
have much to learn and much to for
get. The attack on the Suprem
Court is but symptomatic of an OLE
and general demand that the union
shall be privileged class, withou
and above the law in many impor
tant respects. The injunction mus
not apply to unions. Neither militi,
nor state constabulary must be use,
to keep order when a union acts. Th
union need not incorporate so as t,
stand on an equality of regulation
and contest with the unit of capital
A whole new attitude must b,
gained by these leaders if they ar,
TO render the best service to theil
unions in the coming revision of tn,
laws. So far from breaking dowr
the authority of the courts and ths
law, the country is insisting that
they be upheld and upbuilt. Tht
unions, especially those touching The
lives of the people, must become sub
ject to control in a new sense. The
precise measures to be passed are
stiA far from clear. The resul,
sought is certain. The unions must
step out into the light as the power
ful and useful bodies that they are
ready to cooperate with the govern.
ment and subject always to the high.
er rights of the people as whole
The union leaders can help greatly
by recognizing the changing spirit
of the times, abandoning their old
and obsolete demands and aiding in
the construction Of new era of spe-