OCR Text |
Show THE CITIZEN 6 Remedy Sought For Labor Strife Mr. Frederic J. Haskin, writing for a number of daily papers, says: There are signs that the average citizen of the United States has grown more than a bit weary of the continual conflict between capital and labor and wants something done about it. Like the fictional colonel from the far west, the average citizen can be pushed just so far, and it would seem that his limit has been reached. After giving a partial list of the troubles now disturbing the industrial peace, Mr. Haskin continues: Evidently there is something fundamentally wrong in the relations between capital and labor. Just what that something is may be debatable, but there is a substantia unanimity of opinion to the effect that the only remedy lies in the assertion of governmental authority in the public interest. This means regulation, which will be resisted both by labor leaders and by most representatives of capital in the employing relation. There are those who urge that the initial step in this direction should be law one with teeth in an it. The objetcion to such a law is that it cannot be enforced. As long as labor is free, men canot be compelled to work against their will. If they are determined, jail holds no terrors for them. If they are sufficient in numbers there would not be enough jails in the country to hold them and an army of world war size would be required to round them up and herd them in stockades or detention camps. An law, to be effective; must be enforceable in the improbable but possible situation where all the workers in every community and in all industries had gone on strike. In any event, what kind of service is to be expected from men compelled to work against their will, if there could be such compulsion? Labor, to be efficient and productive, must be free of coercion in any form, and the wise employer recognizes this and would not have workers in his plant who were not there of their own voli- economically just and wise with respect to each of these questions should be clearly defined and promulgated as the organic law of industrial relations, and this organic law or code should be accepted and enforced between capital and labor. . . . Without such an industrial code, it is pointed out, arbitrations of labor disputes become mere trading affairs, in which the better trader triumphs. It is all very well to say that arbitration means a setlement on the basis of what is sound and just, but what is the Tule or yardstick with which to measure what is sound and just? Different arbitrators will have different ideas if the determination is solely a matter of opinion. Confidence in courts is not based upon confidence in the integrity and wisdom of the judges, but rather upon the fact that the judges are governed by an organic law, by precedents and by a procedure that is universal in its application. Such, in substance, is the case tnat is being made for the establishment of an industrial code in these trying days of almost constant strife between capital and labor. President Harding himself has advocated such a code, and there are evidences of a growing belief that strikes and lockouts can be made unecessary and undesirable when both labor and capital have the assurance that their differences will be adjusted by a tribunal in which they have confidence, on the basis of certain rules or principles that they know to. be fair and that are applicable to all workers and to all employers. There will be little dissent among those familiar with the actual problems of capital and labor with the opinion that the universal recognition of certain principles governing industry will do much to avert most of the industrial strife that now afflicts the country.. Indeed, most of the struggles on the industrial field rage around questions that are fundamental and should long ago have been recognized and established. This betion. . . . ing the case, there is little hope of the But if strikes and lockouts are not early establishment of a code such as to be made unlawful, can they be made that outlined by Mr. Haskin, thougn unecessary and undesirable? Indus- progress to that end is made when trial experts answer this question in public opinion demands it. the affirmative. They say that it is In the meantime there is abundant only essential to create conditions unevidence that the use of friendly conder which both factors in the indusferences and arbitration have done trial equation are assured of a square much to settle difficulties and, penddeal and a fair deal, and the adjustthe establishment of some sort of ment upon that basis of the differences ing a more general resort universal which they cannot settle by and for to these code, peaceful means would serve themselves. to for the advanced step These experts advocate the estab- of pave the way general recognition of certain basic lishment of an industrial code which that would in any event asdefines the fundamental principles principles sure substantial justice to most emgoverning all relations in all industry. ployers and employees. Every community and every plant preWhatever may be said by the opposents problems in employment which are peculiar to itself,, but there are nents of arbitration and similar peacecertain phases of the relations between ful ways of adjusting disputes, it can be truthfully pointed out that even unemployer and employed that are universal and basic and with respect to satisfactory arbitration is far cheaper and more neary approximates justice which there should be rules or principles that are basic and universally than the settlements secured by strikes and lockouts which, after all, are finaccepted and applied. Workers either should or should ally composed on some sort of comnot have the right to organize in trade promise basis after great loss and often exhaustion of the resources of unions, the right of collective bargainsides to the difficulty. both ing, the right to a living wage, and the More or less successful attempts day or some right to an eight-hou- r restriction on the hours of labor. Wo- have heretofore been made in specific men in industry should or should not industries to establish some sort of have the right to the same pay as men code that would by advance agreement for the same or equivalent service. obviate most of the causes of disputes. Employment of children under a cer- The Monthly Bulletin of the United tain age in mines and mills should or States Department of Labor has from should not be permitted. The public time to time comented upon these should or should not be protected codes and in the issue of January, 1921, devoted much space to an explanation against interruptions in industry growof the Joint Conference Council plan ing out of controversies between capital and labor. adopted by the printing industry, sayWhatever is ethically, socialy and ing that it is the most advanced and anti-strik- anti-strik- e e well-define- d scientific that has so far been put into operation in any industry. This plan is in successful operation in hundreds of cities and may yet form the basis for a similar code to apply to industry generally. UTAHS REPRESENTATIVES GAINING GREAT FAME AT NATIONAL CAPITAL Praising the work being done by Utahs representatives in congress and expressing conviction that the direct primary system of selecting candidates should take the place of the convention method in Utah, Arthur Woolley, chairman of the Republican central committee in Weber county and Mrs. Woolley have returned from the east, says the Ogden Standard-ExamineAfter attending the Elks national convention at Atlantic City, Mr. and Mrs. Woolley remained in Washington for a week to renew old acquaitnances and met a great many Utah people, who are now living in the national Special Events alia August 7 All British day. August 9 Davis County Reunion. N P Trains every hour from 12- oclock. Fare 35c round trip. Autos, 10c per car 10c per passenger. - II t t S r. P HI id D e be capital. ! Smoot Powerful. The citizens of this state can well be proud of the manner in which they are being represented at Washington, Mr. Woolley said. Senator Smoot is handling the tariff bill in the senate, and it is generally recognized that he has acquired a mastery of the whole minutiae of the tariff as no other person has done. His attendance upon the floor of the senate is constant and his views carry greater weight than those of any other senator on this question. He is championing a tariff that will adequately protect the raw products of the west, as well as the ed . manufactured articles of the east, and that is the kind of bill that will be passed by the Republican party. As chairman of the powerful senate committee on finance, after March 4 next, and as a member of the commission appointed to refund the war debt to the United States from the allied nations, he will be one of the most powerful men in our government and truly a world figure. Congressman Colton and Congressman Leatherwood are dong good work in the house and are evidently well liked in Washington. Francis G. Mat-soassistant commissioner of internal revenue, is another Utahn who is making himself felt. There are perhaps more Utah people living in Washington and employed in the government service at the present time than ever ty se le xa lii US rei III al so-cal- conventions. a to ini ipi s. i ill :ko dt fo: ,a uu :h to T to e. al dt is ireo el iny Nomi Republican eo ttit aizi nte S. Senator For U. ERNEST hat ing BAMBERG0 pyi ed the progressive wing of the Republican party, which is steadily gaining ground in party control by means of the primaries and resort to bloc voting in congress. The objection to the primary law is that it is expensive, but from the returns in North Dakota, Iowa and other states, where comparatively poor men were successful in closely contested fights against men of greater wealth, it would seem that the poor man has equally as good a chance in the primary as undpr the convention system. In any event, it is obvious that the people as a whole have a better opportunity to directly express their choice by means of the primary than through the medium of political . iza ir n, before. Aside from the temporary interest in the strike situation, the direct primary system, with its effect upon the leadership in both political parties is the political question which is receiving the keenest attention. The primary laws in the various states are under fire from the old guard, a number of whom have been eliminated by men of more progressive tendencies. On the other hand the new system is bding stoutly defended by is UNION MADE TO YOUR ORDE ie For Congress First Congressional DON B. )gn DstI ace rite COLTONT the of D1 Second Congressional E. O. LEATHER00 1 0 an 171 Ini the For Judge Supreme JUDGE J. W. W int trill CHE85 ffic ;fo . oth For Superintendent Publlf lD jeSSES DR. C. N. stn era. fing ion |