Evening star., 1937-09-06
Half-Century Labor Day.

Ia MS statement issued on the eve
OF the annual observance of Labor
day, the President reminds the Ameri-
can people of the Importance of the
workmans role in society There was,
indeed, no occasion SO to remind them.
They are fully conscious of the great
and valuable part which those who toll
with their hands as well as with their
minds have played in the DEVELOPMENT
OF society and in the advancement of
this country to its present state of eco
nomic security and prosperity. There has
never been time when that contribu-
ton to the country's welfare has not
been appreciated, though labor has been
compelled by adversely to struggle
through organization to secure a better
ment OF conditions and larger return
for services rendered.
Whether in our complex of conditions
labor has at times been inadequately
compensated, whether in the develop
ment OF industry capitalize use the
brlefest possible term for those who hire
the services of others-has denied the
right of labor to organize for advantage
IN what is known as collective bargain
ing, that time has passed. Labor has
won that right, has been granted that
right, has exercised it and continues to
exercise it.
There is no dispute now as to the
right Of those who work for others to
organize themselves, to seek constantly
Improving position, to share in due pro-
portion the gains of those who employ
them. Not only have those gains in
creased, but, quite as important, work.
Ing conditions have been improved, dam
gers have been lessened, the physical well
fare of the workers has been conserved.
Unless this country is to adopt an
other system of government, patterned
upon the model of what is called COM
munism, there must remain division
between those who work and those who
employ, division as to property rights,
with the workers always eligible to be-
come employers as well as workers
through participation in the ownership
Of the hiring organization, which is
within the right of every person by
means of investment of savings There
are countless examples of advancement
by such means.
That, however, is beside the question
Of the right of the worker to organize,
which Is now inalienable. It has been
claimed, however, that the right to
organize implies the right to quit work
collectively, to strike for higher pay or
betterment of conditions That right
has been established and recognized.
Measures of law have been adopted to
Insure that right. In it's exercise, labor
has at times gone far beyond the limit
bf the law and has undertaken by physi-
cal force to prevent the continuance of
operations. Government has provided
means to adjust these disputes.
Lately new step has been taken by
. militant group in the ranks of labor,
. new technique known as the sit-down
strike, designed to prevent the opera
ton of works pending settlements. For
that procedure there is no support in
law or In morals. It is a form of con-
f1scation a militant trespass 1t can
not be tolerated without encouraging
and abetting communistic tendency
Sepugnant to the fundamental princi-
piles of American government and social
organization
The President repeats his words of
his message to the workers last year. He
then said that the workers of the United
States do not ask for more than living
wage for fair days work, and they
will not be satisfied with less. There
can be no demur to this statement. It
would have been gratifying and reas-
euring If the President had gone on to
deplore, if not to condemn, the illegal
and dangerous methods which have
lately been adopted by certain branch
Of the labor organization to enforce
demands by the virtual confscation
of property.
American labor will thrive most surely
and speedily through peaceful and legal
methods of organization and demand