Evening star., 1933-09-12
Rights and Duties of Labor
Linked With Public Welfare

Observance Of Labor day, this year,
aroused unusual interest in the relations
between employers and employees, and
inspired discussion Of the place of labor
organizations under the recovery cam
paign While it is declared that asso-
Citations of workers have an unprece-
dented opportunity to contribute to gen.
eral efficiency, it is also contended that
the new deal sets aside the special in
terests Of all groups, and commands the
services Of existing machinery OF action
in moving toward the establishment Of
good conditions for all citizens.
As an element of the present pur-
pose of the Roosevelt administration,
the Pasadena Star-NewS advises that,
under ideal conditions, the right of
every able bodied man or woman, who
desires work, TO have employment is
basic and fundamental" That paper
further argues:
Many studious persons are convinced
that economic conditions never again
will be the same in this country as they
were before 1929. There must be far
reaching readjustment in business and
industry, particularly as pertains to en-
ployment. Hours of labor and wages
will be important factors in this new
well assured that there must be, uni
versally, a shorter work day and q
shorter work week. 1t is to be hoped
that Americans of all classes will ap-
proach the problems of this economic
transition in a calm, courageous, con-
scientiouS frame of mind and heart"
Labor day." in the judgment Of the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, lis a
time for serious thinking, studying and
careful determination" day for de
liberation, with the broad view and the
long view of the interests Of labor in
general, whose vital stake is the return
of normal employment" The Evening
Bulletin feels that 'at no previous time
since the clouds of industrial depres-
sion began to gather have there been
more encouraging signs of the return
Of fair working weather than at pres
ent.' That paper advises that the in
terests Of organized labor ought to be
identical with the interests of labor in
general" 1t is pointed out that there
are some controversies in this field. and
the Philadelphia paper continues: THE
workers want jobs and wages. All other
considerations, however proper and i'm
portant they might be considered in
other circumstances, are now subordi-
nate and ought to be kept so. The
present situation calls for cooperation.
on the part Of the employe as well as
on the part Of the employer. Steps to-
ward the solution must be taken In uni
son. Each Of the partners must recog-
nize the interest, even the whimS, OF
the other, and adjust its respective pace
to a harmonious stride. If N. R. A.
were to be wrecked by willful insistence
on the part of one or the other, where
concession and compromise are possible,
industrial disaster, instead Of recovery.
would be invited"
"Since last year at this season." states
the Bloomington Paragraph, vast de-
velopments have taken place, most Of
them attributable to the recovery act.
Child labor has been put in the way Of
gradual abolishment; likewise many
abuses of sweatshop labor. Higher eth
ical standards have been accepted in
many industries: labor organizations
have In general been given freer hands; ;
new machinery for handling industrial
disputes has been set up; long-range
planning has been accepted as coming;
many unfair trade practices have been
tabooed. Steps toward adjustment Of
working hours to the machine age have
been taken. With these marks Of sig
niflcant advance toward goals which
have been sought for many years, the
Government agencies, mainly the N. R.
A., should use caution in its course
where it comes to the parting Of the
ways; that no attempt at governmental
dictatorship over industry, such as has
been patterned in Germany and Italy,
shall create q public revulsion and thus
nullify the positive benefits that are
now within sight"
"In the evoc of fbouobtf,,l leaders ~
the workers, this may be the beginning
Of a new era for labor in the United
States" according to the Scranton
Times, which observes that these lead
ers ARE now welcoming the Govern