The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-09-06
By ROGER W. BABsoN

Babson Park. Mass. Sept. 6-The
labor situation in certain sections
OF the United States and Canada
is very provoking. | do not say
serious because only Is per cen,
OF all United States workers are
engaged in defense production;
while at the worst only very, very
small percentage OF the total is on
strike at any time. strikes make
good feed for newspapers. They al
ways increase circulation, and,
hence. naturally are played up for
all they will stand.
The workers argument Is that
their sons who have been earning
500 to $3.50 per month have sudden
ly been pulled out of their Jobs and
given $3l per month in the Army.
Hence" they say. 1.-The remaining
members OF the family must have
more to balance the family budget"
This sounds reasonable: but is
striking" the way to bring 1t
abeHt2 say No. Anything
gained today by holding a pistol
at your neighbors head will surely
be lost tomorrow.
Clio vs.. AFofl
The truth is that the labor unions
have split into two hostile groups
the clio and the AFofL. The leaders
OF both are desperately competing
TO see who can get the most for
their members-without any regard
for the nations welfare Unfortun.
ately, the more radical group-the
CIO-has the sounder program !;
while the more conservative group
the AFofLChas an out-of-date
setup
The CLIO organizes one industry
independently OF what the workers
do. For instance. under the Clio.
the Detroit electricians who work
in the auto industry are In the same
union with the auto machinists, auto
painters, etc. But under the AFofL,
all the Detroit electricians are in
the Electrical Workers Union,
while all the Detroit painters are
in the Painters Union-irrespective
OF whether they work on autos or
houses.
Government Interference
Another unfortunate situation Is
the anti-employer attitude assumed
by Madam Perkins. Having served
the nation as Director General of
Information of the Labor Admin
istration during World War |.
know the great importance OF an
impartial Secretary OF Labor at
time like this.
The wage workers OF 19l4-1S were
a large factor In winning World War
l because of the then wise leader
ship OF Secretary of Labor Wilson.
II. however. Hitler is victorious in
World War II. am afraid history
will blame it onto our Labor De.
partment and the. United States
Labor Relations Board This is no
time to throw monkey wrenches in
to industry by playing politics. For
further particulars, = refer readers
to the experiences OF the Ford Motor
Company.
Labor VS.. Investors
Labor leaders seem to forget that
the value of their insurance policies,
savings bank accounts, and even
old-age pensions depends 100 per
cent upon the corporations (for
which they are working) making
profits. Working conditions have
been bad in certain localities and
| honor those labor leaders who
have rectified them; but these la
Dor leaders should know when to
stop.
Already I note a tendency on the
part OF careful investors TO sell out
their holdings in industries where
labor leaders have recently secured
control. They know what has hap
pened to dividends under such con-
ditions: It will probably take years
for the motor industry to again earn
what It did previous to 1871. Meth
err wage workers nor stockholders
will get as much in food. clothing,
and shelter as before 1t was CIO
unionized.
Americas Opportunity
America Is today at the parting
OF the ways One road is paved with
dissension, waste. and political pres
sure blocs seeking their own selfish
interests. forgetting the nation S
good. The other road is paved with
cooperation. conservation. and truly
representative government have
faith to believe that employers,
wage workers. and Congressman
are going 10 be wise enough TO