Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-02-05
% 7.',...r as SOCIETY NEWS ,,, Z
Collective Bargaining
Is Coming, Babson Says
Continued from Page One.)

| few years the employers hold the
| whiphand and over-reach, which re-
suits in labor leaders coming into
power Then labor leaders over-reach.
| which results in the employers return
ing to power. 81
Laror leaders are wise enough now
to avoid being handicapped by COM
pulsory arbitration later on under a
Republican administration Labor
leaders know that on a straight out
and out fight employers have a dis
tinct advantage and usually win. Gen
orally speaking, labor's only hope is
to arouse public opinion to a point
where the government will interfere.
In other words, labor wins usually on
ly through government interference
The modern Shutdown strike" may be
absolutely illegal and should not be
tolerated. Nevertheless, these strikes
are one more means of Fastening gov
eminent mediation" upon which vic
tory for the strikers depends
Collective Bargaining Coming.
President Sloan of General Motors
probably made a mistake for this
same reason, in refusing to, go to
Washington at the invitation of Sec
rotary Perkins on January 81. NY
sympathies are wholly with Mr.. Sloan
as to the "sit-down" strikers; but
two fclacks do not make a white
NO man should refuse a summons of
the President of the United States or
a member of his cabinet. Most of the
large employers with whom 1 am ac
quainted privately admit that all in
dustry in this country will be general.
ly unionized. They admit that, wage
workers, as well as stockholders. are
entitled to bargain collectively. Thew
also admit that workers are entitled
to select their own unions.
employers also justly ask that labor
unions should be legally held to carry
out their agreements the same as are
tne operations. This latter however.
Will ocme about naturally after wage
workers become generally organized
and recognized. England has been
through the same struggle as that in
"nlch we are now engaged. The re-
cognitiOn of union .laborers was
Fought hard and bitterly; but when
finally accepted there was no trouble.
AS a result of such recognition of the
unions, the British public demanded
that the unions he responsible and
liable in connection with their con-
tracts.
CriticizeS Frances Perkins.
Perhaps the greatest handicap in
the present situation is the fact that
we have such a cold-blooded secre-
tary of labor in Washington Frances
PERKINS is very able, woman. She is
consc ,ienticus, extremely Intelligent.
and has given her life to welfare
work In my humble Judgment, how
ever, she is handicapped in connection
With Cancellation work. She thinks
that industry is ruled by figures when
INDUSTRY really is ruled by feelings
II William B. Wilson, who was secre-
tary OF labor during the terrific con-
fllcts of the World War, were in
charge today, both wage workers and
employers would be far better off. He
and most of the other secretaries of
labor preceding Miss Perkins have
realized that labor troubles are large
ly emotional
l recall attending scores of labor
conferences where employers and la
Dor leaders were so bitter that thew
would not speak one to another. Yet
never knew an instance where Sec
rotary Wilson would not unite them
in common agreement. The attorneys
and experts representing either en-
ployers or wage workers would come
armed with tables of figures and vol
! umes of facts. These papers thew
would lay before Secretary Wilson.
But would he look at them? No. The
secretary knew that men are reached
only through their hearts and not
through their heads
Personal Conclusions.
Secretary Wilson would say to me:
"Babson, every side has some good
points; let's try to bring them out.
Both sides can agree on a few facts
let's talk about those few upon which
they are agreed. Wage workers are
| not fighting for more wages or shor-
ter hours so much as for recognition.
Although they insist on recognition of
their labor unions, they are primarily
interested in the recognition of them
selves as individuals"
In this connection let me add tina.
| never knew the founder of bust
| ness to have any serious labor trouble.
The difficulty comes when the bust
/ ness descends to the children or grand
children. or is managed by absente
| stockholders. This is further evidence
| that feelings are a far more impor.
tant factor than figures.
There are four important problem
involved in the labor struggles today
| The solution of these problems de
ponds upon a greater recognition Of
| these four facts:
Cd Labor difficulties are largely
emotional and must be solved with
out hurting the feelings or pride
| either side. Unless both groups arc
satisfied with the settlement, it is US
ually of little avail.
(2) Both wage workers and en-
! ployers are ultimately dependent on
increasing production. Only as more
is produced is there more to divide
unless pr'oductiort is increased, in
creased wages result only in increased
prices.
90 Compulsory arbitration is not
the solution of the problem, but re-
suits in merly favoring the side which
: is temporarily in political power. The