Evening star., 1934-03-07
BY DIR. FRANZ SELDTE.

bI Dh. fhANZ SELDTE.
BERLIN, March (NAN.A).-
The statute regulating national labor,
which will come into force May /, is
the first serious social legislation to
give expression to the, fundamental
ideals of world point of view in our
new German Reich.
The emphasis laid on the idea of
leadership in the economics of Ger
many, the elimination Of contrasts
between classes. under which German
economy has broken down, and the
emphasis laid on social honor in the
conduct Of affairs are the national
and socialistic foundations upon
which this work is raised.
The person undertaking an enter
prise is given the title of leader of
the enterprise. That the freedom al
lowed him shall be turned to good
account and that the privileges ac-
corded him shall not lead to any act
of despotism on his part are ac-
counted for in the fact that he is
amenable to social court of honor,
a court now set up probably for the
first time in the whole world by this
statute.
Fidelity Schemes Basis.
In the first section of this enact
ment We have consciously countered
the now finally eliminated Marxist
conflict between classes of society by
the community of labor of all en-
ployeS. In business, we bring the
leaders and retainers together. The
labor situation has been transformed
into one of faith. In future the
rights of labor. the rights and duties
of all members of the community of
labor will be diverted, not from con-
tractual terms and conditions put on
paper, but from the live idea of fidel-
ity, the fidelity of the leader to his
retainers and of the latter to their
leader.
The owner Of the enterprise or any
person charged by him with the re-
sponSible management of the busi-
ness will in future act as leader of
the employees. The exclusion of all
irresponsible go-betweens will bring
and will force the leader and retain
ers together and will insure the nee
essary community of labor and the
necessary mutual confidence.
Self-Interest Deferred.
In large businesses, this very close
community of labor will not be pos
Sible. In such cases the statute
makes provision for fiduciary inter-
mediaries who, as members of the
general working bodies. will assist the
leader in a consultative capacity and
will. under his direction, constitute a
board of confidence, thus doing away
with policy dictated by self-interest
as has hitherto been usual. Conflict
ing interests will be a thing of the
past: there will be only one interest
in common, the business, which pro-
vides them with work and with a
living.
The board Of confidence is appoint
ed for purposes Of cooperation in the
regulation of working conditions and
will cooperate in the safeguarding OF
the business and in the settlement OF
any disputes which may arise.
The institution Of trustees Of la
Dor, which has fully justified its exist
ence during the past months, will be
retained. The labor trustees will
henceforth be officials of the Reich
with all privileges and duties. They
will be subject to the supervision OF
the labor ministry of the Reich from
whom. as we'll as from the minister
of agriculture of the Reich, they will
receive instructions. With a view tC
maintaining the labor peace. the du.
ties of the trustees have been i'm
plicitly set out in detail in the statute
Obligations Strengthened.
Social honor will in the future con-
stitute the basis of the community
of labor. The development of this
idea of social honor and the setting
up of a special court of honor con-
stitute one of the cores of the stat
ute. A special clause, dealing ex-
haustively and protectively with the
question Of notice, has been included
with view to strengthening socia
obligations in all businesses.
When this important statute comes
| into force May !, the second ami
versary of national labor, the trusted
| officials of businesses will for the
| first time make a solemn oath anc
declaration before a festive gathering
| Of retainers that they will serve the
/ common veal in a spirit of honor
able comradeship for the we'll being
! Of all retainers.
Every really capable leader knows
that he can only pin success to hi
banner if he enjoys the confidence
of his retainers and can rouse theil
| enthusiasm. Every sensible retainer
knows that he can only stand on 8
| firm footing if, in the old German
| way, he really sets his mind to fol-
low his leader and to keep faith.
1t Is on this ideal that our statute
IS founded. The terms and conditions
of labor must be based, not on in
ternecine conflicts and disputes, not
on threats and distrust, but on the
cooperation Of work founded on mu.
tual respect and on q sense Of duty
(Copyright. 1894. by the North American
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