Evening star., 1938-09-20
EDUCATION URGED
AMONG WORKERS (
knowledge Of the Economic
Aspect of Business Seen
Labor Relations Aid.
BY ]. A. FOX.

BY ]. A. FOX.
The education of workers in the
economic aspects Of business today was
urged ut the Seventh International
Management Congress - an aid to i'm
proved labor relations. The session
WAS marked by \ brisk exchange Of
views between spokesmen for employers
and employees.
The first debate was featured by
Frank Reising of New York, labor
editor Of Business Week, who declared
that business executives are too highly
paid.
L. G. Hill of Detroit, manufacturing
manager of the Murray Corp. scofhng
at this contention, asked the speaker
If he had ever realized that there
is competition for good business ex-
ecutives," adding that If you are
going to keep good men. you must pay
them" Again Mr.. Hill came to the
defense of business when Spencer
Miller Of New York, director Of the
Workers Education Bureau Of the A.
F OF L., declared that British indus
trial relations were smooth when in
dustry came to realize that the labor
group was not something to be fought
but a component part of industry,
and added that American industry
should be guided by this example.
Labor Bewilders Management.
Prefacing his remarks with a men,
ton Of the disturbed labor conditions
in the Detroit area, but declaring that
his own company is unaffected, Mr..
Hill said: Management today in this
country IS tremendously bewildered. 1t
is looking for some one to represent
labor on whom 1t can depend; some
one who will sign contract and stick
to it."
The labor question was treated
after one Of six group discussions into
which the Congress today divided It
self after the opening yesterday. at
which more than 1000 delegates from
more than 81 countries were present
The need for educating workers in
the economics of business was urged
by Herman Feldman, professor Of in
dustfial relations at the Amos Tuck
School Of Finance at Dartmouth Col
lege, who led the discussion at the
group session. He said this principle
had been followed with benefit both in
Sweden and In Great Britain, but ne
agreed that there is one factor lack
ing in this country which would be
handicap. Unlike Great Britain, for
example, We are not so dependent on
world trade that an economic policy
affecting cost or price at once shows
itself in resistance from foreign
source tangibly affecting demand"
Finances Open to Workers Urged.
Morris G. Leeds, q Philadelphia
manufacturer, believed, he said. that
the employees Of an industry should
be acquainted with its finances. There
was some dissent from this viewpoint
W. G. Marshall, vice president OF
Westinghouse Electric, said that one
of the major problems of industry
throughout the country today is that
Of teaching the supervisory forces the
new technique in management Of men
that the times call for.
At the luncheon meeting Alex Brule,
vice president OF the National Com
mittee Of French management, told
the delegates that management would
have to humanize itself to eliminate
unemployment and pauperism.
He said that business should try
to do away with cutthroat competition,
but he warned against "the dangerous
path of asking public authority to in
tervene by prohibiting imports or fore
ing agreements.
The French delegate also urged that
social problems be judged strictly from
the professional angle, emphasizing
that political factors should be dis
carded and eliminated"
Labor Relations Forum.
The technical sessions, held in down.
town hotels, will continue through
Thursday, with the general sessions
at the Chamber Of Commerce of the
United States lasting another day.
Tonight at 7:30 o'clock there will
be a labor relations forum. Robert
j. Watt, American workers delegate to
the International Labor Office; Lewis
H. Brown. president Johns-Manville
Corp, and William Allen White, edi-
tor Emporia CKans) Gazette, will
treat the subject, respectively from the
standpoint Of labor, employer and pub
lie, and r. Lloyd Roberts, chief labor
oficer Of Imperial Chemical Indus
tries Of London will discuss industrial
conciliation and arbitration in Great
Britain.
The delegates yesterday afteroon
heard blast at Government regi-
mentation of industry by A. w. Rob-
ertson, chairman Of Westinghous Elec-
trio, who has been one Of the fore
most industrial critics of the New
Deal.
Mr.. Roberts suggested the need Of
union of stockholders to demand
larger returns from investments.
Last night the visitors were enter
tanned at a reception and dance at