The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-02
WEDNESDAY. AUG. ? 1913
EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION
SPEAKS

THE Presidents blanket unemployment
Il code has given Andrew J. Allen. secre-
tqrr Of the Associated Employers OF Indian
aDcls. bad case Of filters In his latest
"bi uetin" 20 members he gives two para
ers phs Of lip service 70 the recovery plan
and devotes eight pages to advising employers
Ct reservations they should make before
signing the agreement.
He Is hystercal particularly over the
rQlt the administration has given to labor to
oreanize and bargain collectively. Mr.. Allen
50 far overreaches himself 10 advise en-
p.cyers to insert the following in their agree
ment with the President:
1t is understood clearly that nothing in this
cooe shall impair in any particular the con-
s,ifutionaI rights Of the employer to pro
tee his business and property from the I'M
lawful activities of others"
This is a plain inference that President
Roosevelt has sanctioned recovery plan
which is unconstitutional and encourages
laglessneSs in direct violation of his solemn
oath Of office If Mr. Allen did not intend
to leave such an impression with employers
why did ne feel it necessary to include such
a sentence in his bulletin?
OF course such an inference not only Is
arrant nonsense but grossly disrespectful and
insulting to the President of the United
States At still another point in the bulletin
Mr. Allen suggests that employers tack on
their signed agreements
Nothing in this code is to prevent the
selection retention and advancement OF en-
ploves on the basis of their individual merit
without regard to their utilization or non
aniiation with any labor organization"
In other words. nothing is to interfere with
the employer in maintaining an open shop.
The powerful steel industry is discovering
that the federal government is not going to
assist it in keeping its plants nonunon Mr..
Roosevelt has made it plain that he has no
objection to the orderly organization of trades
unions in any industry.
Mr. Allen believes that employees should
be advanced on the basis Of individual
merit" Who is to decide this question of merit?
There is the kernel of the whole problem
Fnlichtened labor and capital say the final
decision shall rest with an impartial outside
arbiter. A few backward employers think it
still should rest wholly with management.
For many years the newspapers. and other
EMPLOYERS. have been submitting labor prob
lens to collective bargaining and arbitration.
There have been few strikes and the ne~spa-
pers as a whole have been profitable enter
priseS.
The Employers Association statement
talks a great deal about the constitutional
rights of management. 1t says nothing about
the constitutional rights of labor. Nor does
IT mention the Indiana law passed By the last
legislature. guaranteeing these rights by for
bidding labor iniunctions and outlawing the
yellow dog contract.
There are no penalties for failure to sign
this tthe unemployment agreement except
these Of a social character" writes Mr.. Allen
Members of the Employers Association
would do well to mediate at some length upon
this casual remark This social penalty
NAV mean boycott and the forcing of recall
citrant. nonco- operative employers out OF
business after Sept l. Surely such punish
ment is far more severe than a trial in court
and subsequent fine of few thousand
dollars.
Mr.. Allen is evidently the type of indi-
vidual who looks under the bed every night
to make sure there is no bomb-bearing Boil
shevik there He is as much of an extremist
IN his way as Stain is in his
He does not realize that the Constitution
IS big enough and broad enough for the blood
less revolution which has been taking place in
recent months
II the country Is to be preserved every one
must get squarely behind the President So
. cietv is in the worst stand up and drag out
fight for decent existence in the worlds his
tory Capital and labor must stand shoulder
TO shoulder in the front line trenches. This is
no time for weaseling
Among sensible people. Mr. Aliens state
ment will attract about as much attention as
the piping OF a peanut stand at the battle OF
the Marine.
SPEAK Up. MIR. HOWARD