The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-08-18

to the many. Neither does he propose
to install any system Of State domin-
alton and control such as prevail in
Germany and Italy. American labor
wants no traffic with European des-
potisms which have destroyed free
trade unionism and free private enter
prise, and have forbidden any form of
voluntary collective effort in social, re-
ligious and economic fields.
Involved in labor's program of col
lective bargaining and Of joint action
is but another implementation of that
principle of democratic action and
control and under which there has
been the greatest development Of the
system Of private ownership Of prop
erty. But if those who are opposed
to the application of democratic con-
trolls to industry have their way, we
shall most certainly find ourselves
following the road which leads straight
to that other form of autocratic con-
troll of both government and industry,
namely the totalitarian or fascist sys-
TEN of social control.
There has been half century of ex-
perience Of organized labor in Ameri-
ca. Out of this experience there have
arisen and endured labor organiza-
tions which have tested and tried the
methods of democracy. These tests
embrace both internal methods Of con-
troll and the development of industrial
relations with their employers. Numer-
Gus examples could be cited to Illus
trate both the method of collective
bargaining and of joint action as
caused by the trade unions. Despite
the historic ar,a5itter struggle of la
Dor to obtain this degree of equality
the results that have come from this
constructive activity, continuity OF
service, technical skill and long eX-
perience are not only remarkable but
are indicative of the pattern which
we should attempt to follow if We
hope to avoid the pitfalls of Other
lands. This is no new thing in Amer
lean history. The only new thing i!
the recognition by industry of the
sanity and reasonableness of col
lective bargaining by and for labor
and of joint action between organized
employers and workers.
From the beginning, organized la
Dor has wanted to substitute the coun
Gil table for the strike, the wage cut
the lockout, the yellow dog contract
the injunction, etc. Continuity of EN-
ployment is a condition of continuity
Of income. From the beginning, labor
has been anxious to meet management
the other party to the transaction
on a reasonable and business lik,
basis. There should be no occasion
for any other method Of dealing. Tha
this has not been done is not some
thing which can be laid primarily a
the door Of organized labor. It's re
sponsibility has been the lesser one.
That it became necessary to enac
into law what should have been ac
cepted as an operating principle wa!
inevitable in the presence of the grea
disorder and social breakdown from
which we have not yet recovered. Ma!
state definitely and unequivocall!
the Wagner Act would have been
wholly unnecessary if employers il
the past had given a full measure o
recognition to labor as a co-partnec
in industry. Nor is it strange that th'
first efforts to crystaliZe into Law
those principles Of industrial order
which even yet are repudiated by man!
large industrial managements, shoul(
be imperfect in form and in results
We have attempted, in all too char
acteristic American fashion, to repai,
by law what have been the inequitie:
and injustices Of decades. This effor
has produced a one-sided law. This i:
freely admitted. And there is no dis
agreement to the fact that in the Ions
run one-sided law cannot produce
equitable results.
The purpose of this law was t.
raise labor to a status of equality will
employers in collective bargaining. TC
many employers it appears as de
vice to raise an additional element o
conflict between labor and manage
ment. Evidently it has disturbed tht
security which they have felt woulC
only be solely theirs. To a growing
number of workers it is becoming evi
dent that this device may be used b!
government to shape, regulate ant
control the destiny of labor and of la
Dor organizations as may best please
the whim and fancy of those TEN
porarily in control of its admins
tration. Today that control may be
pro-labor. Tomorrow it may be other
wise. Organized labor would have
greatly preferred that this legal de
veopment might have been avoided
But in the presence of great emer
gency it was unavoidable.
Now that this step has been taken
it will probably be difficult to retract
it. That the law should be amended