The Connecticut labor news., 1923-06-08

The Wage-earnerS efforts to I'm prove their conditions as workers have developed along two quite diff ferent lines of policy and method. These two general policies have been based upon principles which are Tn conflict with each other,~ and which indicate an entirely different concep- ton of the general problem faced by the workers, and the method by which this problem IS to be approach ed and solved.
 The group, represented by the American trade union movement, as it gives expression to it's purposes through the methods, principles, and philosophy of the American Fedora tiop of Labor, believe that the wage earners can only adequately protect their interests by trade union organ ization in the industrial field, dealing directly with employers relative to terms of employment, conditions of labor, and the relationship which should exist between employer and employe through the application ot collective bargaining, and by making use of the right of quitting collec- lively whenever the terms and con ditions of employment are unsatisfac- tory.
 The trade union position, as ex- pressed by the American Federation Z of Labor, is that wage-earners are the full equals of all other citizens in their rights and privileges, ond that the American wage-earners because of this fact are in no sense to be con sidered wards of the state, unfortun- ates who, because of their limited rights, or their mental inability to protect themselves in the hurly-burly of life, require the special protecting care of the state.
 The group who seek to secure through legislation what the trade unionists aim to accomplish through negotiations with employers, believe that it is the function of the state to protect wage-carners by assuming a wardship over them. This group is in- huenced by the belief that those who are suffering from any form of injus- tice in the industries, and who for the time being seem incapable of pro- tecting themselves because they are unorganized, or so weakly organized that their efforts are not successful, should be made the wards of the state and receive that consideration and protection from the state which is not given to those citizens considered capable of taking care of themselves.
 Seek to Prevent State Wardstip.
 The American Federation of Labor knowing that children in industry can not organize to protect themselves, has actively supported legislation to protect the youths because they have not reached maturity, and are not competent to organize in a manner which would successfully protect their welfare. The American Federation of Labor, while convinced that woman is in no sense ward of the state be- cause of her sex, has held that owing to the physical effects of industry up on her and her offspring, that 1t was necessary that the state should enact legislation which, would prevent any physical injury being done to her as an employe.
 The American trade union move ment, however, has constantly held to the position that the adult wage-earn- CTS are not wards of the state, and furthermore that their individual well fare, and the protection of their rights as citizens, made it necessary that at all hazards legislative bodies should be prevented from assuming wardship over them.
 The position has been well illus trated by the continued resistance of the American trade union movement to the enactment of any compulsory arbitration laws, and to any other legislation which would permit the state, instead of adult wage-earners, to have the final voice in determining what terms of employment and con ditions of labor would be accepted.
 The principles and policies of the American trade union movement lead it to build up powerful organizations among the wage-earners, to enable them to deal directly with their em- ployers, and to collectively work out the problems arising in industry rela- tive to the relationship between ena- ployer and employe. For this reason the trade union policy has been to eliminate political tinkering with in- dustrial relations as much as possi- ble, ond to depend upon the strength of organization, and the wisdom it acquires through its experiences, to work out it's problems, instead of the power of the state through its legis- lative, administrative, and judicial branches
 Those who believe in using the