The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-19
LABOR LAWS OF A NEW ORDER

Labor troubles are now unknown in
Italy and Germany. Labor troubles are
likewise unknown in Russia and England,
I'm all of those countries, except England,
all power is held by dictators. Italy, Ger
many and Russia are the worlds chief and
best examples of what happens to labor
under political dictatorship. In Russia 1t is
the dictatorship of the proletariat; in Ger
many and Italy it is the dictatorship OF the
Fascists. This difference, however, makes
little difference in the plight of labor IN
the three countries. In all three labor is
under the iron heel of 'the State. In all
of them labor has been deprived OF many
of the rights hitherto held. In Russia the
condition of the workers is little better
than was their condition under the czars.
They are the serfs of the Stain, or Com
mnist, dictatorship. In Italy and Germany
the workers do what they are commanded
to do by the dictators.
In England have been enacted and en-
forced in late years labor laws which deal
with this problem in the manner to be en-
peeted in a great country where human
freedom and the rights of individuals are
still the matter of primary consideration,
in spite of turning of considerable pro-
portions and weight to radicalism and GER
tain forms of Socialism.
The TimeS-News hopes at some future
time to present to its readers comprehen-
sivd summary of the English labor laws,
but this canot be done in this article. 1t is
sufficient here to say that the English stat
utes differ from labor laws in this country
in that they impose conditions on both en-
ploters and workers. In this country the
whole history of labor legislation is a rec
ord of enactments to control employers
without imposing any noticeable or effec-
tive control on workers.
That is one-Sided, unfair and unreaSon-
able course to which is attributable much
of the labor trouble" which has affected
and afflicted this country.
ID England both employers and en-
ployees are brought under the law and
made responsible to it. A labor contract
in England is not contract which binds
employers alone and has no application to
the workers. In this country employers are
financially and otherwise responsible for
their labor contracts The workers, the
other party to the contracts, usually have
40 enforceable responsibility. This is par
ticularly true of contracts with labor
unions, which are not incorporated in this
country.
Now, when we have in this country Ia
Dor laws which are reasonable and falr 10
both parties to labor contract and which
impose equal responsibility upon both par
tiesl we will be getting somewhere. No
doubt in order to accomplish this purpose
it viii be necessary to compel labor unions
andl organizations of workers to incorpo-
rate, se-ss-to make. them more immediate
" responsible for contracts and to facili'
tatei enforcement Of agreements. !
American labor organizations have al
ways opposed incorporation. They have
bee. unwilling to accept the responsibility
which accompanies that legal status; and
vet they have been doing business with in
dustiies and businesses which are incorpo-
rated Cor if not Incorporated, they are
financially and legally responsibility and
from which it is an easy matter for work
ers to exact legal and financial RESPONSE
bilitS.
The British labor laws, however do not
roerblv relate to interpretations Register.