Evening star., 1934-03-19
Industrial Strife.

At time when teamwork on the
part Of labor and capital is vital
need to foster the return to recovery
In this country strife is threatened in
two great induStrieS-the automotive
industry and the railway. Cool heads
and the exercise of common sense on
both sides can and should avert the
threatened troubles, troubles which
would probably have far-reaching and
perhaps disastrous effects. In the auto
mobile industry the workers are seek
ing more liberty in the matter of
unioniZation. The railroad workers
are opposed to a continuance OF the
10 per cent wage cut which is due to
expire June 80.
There is no reason to despair over
the situation. The interested parties
to these controversies are either sit
ting in conference or preparing to sit
In conference. The Congress has
written into the national industrial
recovery act the right of collective
bargaining on the part of labor. That
right has been accepted generally and
In principle by Americans for long
time. It has been resisted, 1t is true,
by some of the leading industrialists
Of the country. The company union,
30 called, has been the answer Of some
corporations to the demand for recog-
milton Of the right of collective bar
gaining. The workers should have the
right of determining for themselves
what they shall do about collective
bargaining and the organization
through which they intend to do this
bargaining for wages and working con-
ditions. They should not be forced
into joining a union in which they
have no sympathy, organized from
outside their own company. Nor, on
the other hand, should they be forced
into joining union which Is promoted
by their employers for the very pur-
pose OF controlling the bargaining"
over wages and hours Of labor. The
fact that Congress has placed in the
law of the land a specific statement
that the workers are entitled to the
privilege Of collective bargaining in
industry has brought the issue to the
fore.
With regard to wages Of railway
labor the situation presents difficulties
for both sides. The workers see the
rising cost of living; they feel they
have made their sacrifices during the
period of greatest depression, and that
those sacrifices should end now. On the
other hand, the railways of the coun-
try have been hard hit financially.
When business drops, the transporta-
ton companies suffer, and suffer ter
ribly. There is an enormous number
Of Americans interested in the sue
cess Of the railroads, not alone Tor
employment and for transportation,
but financially, with the savings OF
a lifetime often involved. There must
be a sane and common sense ground
on which the railway managers and
the workers can meet, and it is fully
expected that a peaceful solution Of
the differences will be found.
The great force of public opinion
IN this country has frequently man
ifested itself for the public good. The
leader of capital or the leader OF the
labor union who undertakes ruthlessly
to ignore public opinion is in danger.
It seems incredible now that the
American people will give sympathetic
consideration to any man or group of
men who deliberately undertake to
throw this country into the chaos
which would follow widespread indus
trial conflict. Jobs and wages are
again on the horizon,