The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-19
By v. @.

! Cooperation was tG solve all industrial
ills. Labor and capital were to be
partners in the management of in
dustry. No more strife, no more
strikes, no more disagreements.
Everything was to be settled across
the conference table. The era of good
will was to be inaugurated.
Dan Willard, president of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, was one of
the foremost opponents of this har-
binger of peace and prosperity. And
now, the name of Dan Willard is sign
ed to a report made recently by a
special committee last week of the
Association of Railway Executives,
according to Labor" official organ
of the railway unions. Nay, more.
Dan Willard was the chairman of this
committee, appointed in 1924 to bring
in measures designed Ito stabilize
employment" The report is vicious
attack on the 8-hour day, and aims
to introduce the 10-hour day, eliminat-
ing extra pay for overtime. This
slashing is disguised under the plea
SAINT term of a more flexible working
day."
The paragraph which spills the
beans is as follows: eff the day could
be increased from eight to nine, and
even to ten hours, in times of business
activity, such a policy would enable
the carriers to employ a more uniform
force throughout the year and avoid
the necessity of laying off or fur
times of business recession" Of
course, the owners would not consider
a proposition to share work in times
of depression, so that the burden
would not lie too heavily on those who
are laid off, as is done now. The
logical proposal is the 8-hour day,
with special pay for overtime, as now;
and no layoffs in slack time, but shar-
ing of work equally among the men,
bers. This would take care of the
sterilization of employment" 'iith-
out any victimization of workers. But
this plan would mean payment for
overtime; would mean no unemployed
to batter down working standards;
and so the railway companies are OPP
posed.
When the statement appeared, there
was considerable protest, and Willard
especially had to do some tall ex-
planning. AS some of the railroad
men put it: eve expected such stuff
from Rea, Former president of the
Pennsylvania R. r. and Loree (of
the Delaware and Hudson) but Will
lard-we can't understand it."
In an interview with Labor" Will
lard explained: "The plan would be
for the men to work an extra hour or
two each day in rush periods only, in
stead of forcing the railroads to en-
| ploy extra men, who have to be dis
charged at the end of the seasons of
increased activity. Adoption of the
arrangement would mean extra money
for the men during the periods of
increased activity. When business re-
turned to normalcy, the men would
only work eight hours day."
But even this forced attempt to ex-
plain away the lengthening of hours
with elimination of overtime does not
satisfy, for as Labor" says: "But all
the railroad workers agree that if the
camel of longer hours once gets his
nose into the tent, he never will rest
till he takes full possession"
Willard, Apostle of Harmony.
1t is not so long ago that Willard
was an honored guest at the banquet
given by Labor" the weekly news
paper, to the editors of the standard
railway labor magazines, in Washing
ton, D. c. The Machinists' Monthly
Journal for May, 1927, gives page
account of this dinner, held March
10th at the New Willard Hotel, under
the caption can Interesting Event"
1t was typical worker-employer CO.
operation gathering, with the follow
ing speakers: James P. Noonan of the
Electrical Workers; Representative
George Huddleston of Alabama (Con-
gressman); William Green, president
of the A. F. of L.; Frank McKenna,
president of the Brotherhood of
Railway Carmen; former Governor
Pinchot of Pennsylvania; and last but
not least, Daniel Willard, president of
the Baltimore and Ohio R. R.
President Green endorsed the
scheme of cooperation between the
companies and the unions. Wizards
speech is given almost complete, tax
ing up two closely printed columns,
occupying page. Another column is
given over to the toastmaster's speech,
introducing Willard. Remember that
this was the first time that railroad
president addressed one of "Labor's"
banquets. Willard was praised for
cooperation with labor by Mr.. Keat-
ing, editor of Labor" who paid him
this tribute: wherever railroad
workers assemble the name of Dan
Willard is spoken with respect and
genuine affection. The B. & o. work.
ers have done, for Mr.. Willard, their