Evening star., 1938-12-08

portance of the change lies in the
tact that an association committed to
definite set of principles does not
Invite attack on details which, how
ever they may seem essential in con-
troversial matters, often becloud the
fundamental purpose.
The problem of labor is a case In
point Last year there were de-
tailed recommendations on the way
the Wagner Act should be changed.
This year the law is criticized in
general way, but there is not the
slightest suggestion of a negative
character which could lead any
friend of the law to assume that
the purpose of the association would
be to Illustrate collective bargain
Ing. On the contrary, the associa-
tlon promises its cooperation in the
formulation of amendments which
seek to carry the underlying desire
OF the trainers of the law to bring
about labor peace.
Job Security.
Likewise, and this is very
healthy advance, there is emphasis
on the need for furnishing con-
tinuity of employment and, wher-
ever possible, the introduction of
annual wages Certainly this ques-
ton OF LOB security is even more
important in some respects than
social security" as the phrase is
powadays used. The fact that the
National Association of Manufac-
turers has come to recognize LOB
security as an obligation of indus
try is evidence that the true causes
OF industrial unrest in America are
at last being recognized.
Emphasis is placed, too, on prompt
consideration of complaints and
grievances and the adjustment
Whereof, together with the payment
OF fair wages and the maintenance
OF good working conditions When
national organization of employers
puts out such set of recommended
tions, labor chiefs will be inclined
to see in the words at least a better
understanding Of what it is that
workers want. But labor leaders,
pn the other hand, will be tempted
10 ask how far these national en-
ployer organizations are willing to
30 to bring about among their own
rank and file better adherence to
the very principles which the en-
ployers In their resolutions may
champion.
DiStrust Is Problem.
This, on the other hand, is a criti-
cism often leveled by employers
against union organizations where
the rank and file kick over the
traces in what are known as unau-
thorized strikes. But a start is made
when the principles are put forth
plainly so that deviation from those
principles can be chalked up against
employers who belong to national
organizations but do not live up to
the platform.
Perhaps the real difficulty is that
too many times mutual distrust has
arisen and each side tries to cut
corners with the other. The words
Of contract, it has often been
said, are valueless If the signers are
guilty of bad faith or truly seek to
fircumvent their written pledges.
This makes it all the more neces-
-sary that mutual faith shall be
built up as between rival groups,
and especially between workers and
employers. Fundamental honesty is
lauded all too frequently but not
applied in many instances where
persons in authority deal with work.
ers. Great opportunities for better
personnel relations, and especially
better human relations, lies ahead
In the field of industry, irrespective
bf changes in the laws governing
collective bargaining.
Honesty Needed.
1t seems commonplace to say
chat a declaration in favor of per-
sonal honesty on both the labor and
the management side is more i'm
portant nowadays than any lip serv-
Ice to abstract principles. Where
employers have actually been on
the level in negotiations and where
labor leaders have seen the nego-
tiations conducted In a truly on-the-
level manner, disputes have been
known to disappear and mutually
beneficial relations result. Bitter
ness, emotion and class hates have
produced emotional disturbances
leading to threats Of strikes, and
actual strikes. More than ever it
would seem that the introduction of
. spirit of honest and frank dealing,
instead of technical, quibbling ne
gotiation, would help to bring about
those mutually satisfactory labor re-
lations which alone can increase
production and give private enter
prise a chance to earn the profits
out Of which capital can be invested
in order to create more and more
fnhe