Evening star., 1942-09-28

= oodstec Sti4 w Vic diiS
women of America in the hope that
I may be able to throw some light
on the conditions obtaining in Eng
land at this crucial hour, between
labor, capital and government. Some
statements may seem to you-as
they are to me-unpleasant; they
may be misinterpreted by the
enemies of labor and by certain
labor men, they may be challenged
by extremists; but those statements
are based on my observations and
contacts
I WAS requested by the President
of the United States to go to Eng
land, look into the labor problems,
and report back to the American
people, especially to the workers.
l was elected by the executive
council of the American Federation
of Labor to represent that organiza-
tion and carry its message and
greetings to the British Trades
Union Congress at its meeting in
Blackpool, England, which opened
on Labor Day.
Met by Ambassador.
I left the United States by air
plane on Saturday morning, August
%, and arrived on the other side of
the Atlantic on the following morn
ing arrived in London at o'clock
Sunday evening, August %. and was
met at the train by Ambassador
Winant In my hotel we went over
the entire picture and he gave me
intimate information relative to
conditions obtaining. The next day
! met with Ernest Bevin, minister
Of labor. in his Offices. I have
known Mr.. Bevin for 25 years, and
I received from him much inforna-
ton as to the method of procedure
and the conditions dealing with his
position.
I also met him on several occa-
sions afterwards and he explained
to me first how the cost of living was
kept down in England, and l was
astounded with the information that
the cost of living-which is a serious
menace confronting our people in
America-has risen only l per cent
over a period of 13 months in Eng
land.
Living Costs Mounted.
Before definite action had been
taken by the government, through
the Office of the minister of foods,
the cost of living was running away
with them, as it has done in our
country. 1t had increased over IL
per cent in the previous IL months.
The government has taken full
control of nearly all food products,
and those food products are rationed
scrupulously to the masses of the
people. I found that in a restau-
rant which the workers would pa
tronize the food was as good as it
was in the leading hotels, the
difference being the price was much
less
I repeat, food is very strictly
rationed, but I was in England
shortly after the ending of the
last war and Mr.. Roberts, a labor
man, was then deputy food COM
missioner.
He gave me some glaring, fright
full facts as to the danger to
England because of the food sit
uation at that time. AS result
of that, England has been storing
away large quantities of durable
foods; and I say to you now that
England will not be short of food,
with our assistance, but will be
short of varieties of food, even if
the war lasts for several years.
Use Every Inch of Soil.
Every inch of usable soil has been
turned over to the production of
food. Farmers or their helpers are
not taken from the farms unless
they can be spared. There is no
such thing as one employment in
ducing workers in other employ
nents to leave for better wages.
When workers are sent from one
point to another their carfares are
paid and certain extra living al
lowances are made.
There is q stabilization of wages
based on the cost of living, although
there have been-and are now
some few advances in wages where
it has been found necessary to
advance wages in cases that are
exceptionally deserving. For in
stance, if miners wages are slightly
raised, the operators are permitted
to slightly increase the price of
coal.
Then the government may reduce
the price of meat or something else,
to Offset the increased cost of coal
The government has the power to
subsidize an industry where the
price to the consumer is reduced in
order to protect that industry and
maintain the moderate, reasonable
profits of operation,
Few Work Stoppages.
There are very few stoppageS OF
work. Here and there unions will
kick over the traces and, in viola
ton of the rules governing their
procedure. cease work. In such in
stances the officers of the unions
denounce the strike, force public
CRAillOAi dedlllSb titC 6CtlOll, DdJkSD
by the Minister of Labor, anc
usually the strike lasts but a few
days.
Where unlawful strikes occur ii
violation of the rules against the
advice of the officers, the agitators
within the union, who, in some
instances can influence large mum
bers, are sought out and there are
methods by which such disturber.
are either sent to other employ.
ments, reshuffled for the draft o
military service, or if necessary
placed out of reach of an oppor,
tunity to create trouble.
Labor may say that this is danger
Gus. There are no classes of peopl
in the world, including our owr
that are more jealous of their free
dom than the British workers. Tn
leaders of labor fully understan'
that they are not surrendering an
of their rights.
They are merely, because of tn
dangers confronting them, suspend
Ing certain rights during the war.
Government is Tough,
Groups OF individuals going o.