Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-09-04


raised the issue, with the evident |
intent of exploiting public influence
in their own interests and to the /
detriment of labor. It never had been
the attitude of labor that anyone's
interest that might be affected should
be ignored entirely. But recognizing
self-preservation as the first law of
nature, labor had been kept so busy
protecting and preserving it's own in
terests that it had had no time to
give thoughtful consideration to the
interests of anyone else; the en-
ployer being well able to- take care,
at all times, of his own interest.
However, in the degree that the
public began to take an interest in
labor-employer controversies, in that
degree labor began to recognize and
accepet the right of the public to its
interest. The result has been that,
in the main, public influence has not
been employed, in as large a measure
as the employers at first believed
possible, to the detriment of labor. It
never had been the attitude of labor
that anyone's interest that might be
affected should be ignored entirely.
But recognizing self-preservation as
the first law of nature, labor had
been kept so busy protecting and pre-
serving its own interests that it had
had no time to give thoughtful con-
sideration to the interests of anyone
else; the employer being well able to
take care, at all times, of his own
interest.
However, in the degree that the
public began to take an interest in
labor-employer controversies, in that
degree labor began to recognize and
accept the right of the public to its
interest. The result has been that,
in he main, public influence has not
been employed, in as large a measure
as the employers at first believed
possible, to the detriment of labor.
Only in cases where the public has
been deceived and mislead as to the
actual purposes and needs of labor,
has its influence proven detrimental.
On the contrary, where labor has
been given opportunity to fairly and
honestly present the justice of its
cause, as a rule, public influence has
been won over to its side.
Public influence has become a big
factor in the determination of indus
trial controversies. The educational
results ACQUIRING from it's participa-
ton has been, on the whole, bene-
fetal. In the first place, the fact
that public influence has become
recognized as a factor has compelled
the employer, frequently, to recede
from his arbitrary position of deny
ing labor any right to a voice in de-
termining the wages or conditions of
their employment, regardless of how
unjust such wages and conditions
might be.
In the second place, it has brought
labor to a recognition of the fact that
its case must be well prepared and be
capable of public defense, and so
thoroly justified that public opinion
cannot help but be on their side, as a.
rule, before the gauntlet of battle is
thrown down.
In the third place, the fact that
compile presentation of the case
usually occurs, has had a big educa-
tional influence upon the public mind
that heretofore paid little attention
to the wrongs and injustices fire.
quently practiced by the ruthless ex-
ploiter of labor in industry.
The fact that both sides to the
effect of public influence, is rapidly
raising the age-old controversy be-
tween labor and employer to a higher
plane. The public is coming to recog-
nize that if it is to be protected
against Inconvenience it must play a
larger part than ever in seeing to
it that a larger measure of justice is
meeted out to those who, from day
to day, make possible their comforts
through continued production.
Rapidly the public is coming to
recognize that regardless of any in
convenience they may suffer, the
rights of labor to a reasonable share
in the fruits of production must be
conceded, and that the rights of
labor to the best wage that industry
can afford, the most reasonable
working conditions and hours of en-
ployment, are rights on the part of
labor that are paramount to every
other right Of either profit on the
part Of the employer or comfort and
convenience on the part of the public.
Tha nraatar The rnnaaatrn Of rlhlic