OCR Text |
Show THE CITIZEN 6 i i The Importance Of Employee Representation 5 I t V t (By John D. Rockefeller, Jr.) n In response to a request for refon his personal position in erence to the labor situation in the Somerset County, Pensylvania, coal fields, John D. Rockefeerl, Jr., in a letter to P. Ernest Johnson, Secretary of the Research Department of the Federal Council of Churches, said: I am glad to reply to that question which you ask me in your recent letter in regard to the situation in Somerset I I infor-matio- 5 ? I f ) I County, Pa. I am not now, nor have I ever been, a stockholder in, or in any way concomnected with, the Berwind-WhitI am, pany, directly or indirectly. a a with stockholder minority however, interest in the other company which you mention, namely, the Consolidation Coal company. Believer in Moral Responsibilities of i e I Stockholders. As a minority stockholder, I have no legal power, even if I were so disposed, to dictate the policies of that company. Moreover, I must concede the administrative rights of management within certain limits of authority and responsibility. Apart from these usual and recognized limitations, whether legal or administrative, I am now, and long have been, a believer in the moral responsibilities of stockholders. Feels Grievances Well Founded In this special case of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, I have not hesitated to accept my personal responsibility or to record my own position. This I have done directly and through competent representatives. I believe that the underlying grievances of the miners in this district are well founded, and I have urged with all the sincerity and vigor at my command thit the present labor policy of the operators, which seems to me to be both unwise and unjust, be radically altered. It is my understanding that the operators in the Somerset County coal To provide against want in old age, to supply a home in case of prolonged illness and to assure ample funds to care for the last illness and funeral expenses of the member are part of the complete protection given to affiliated printers by the International Typographical Union. Other features are imfine proved working conditions, living wage, training in the unfairpoints of the trade and protection against injustice and ness on the part of either employer or fellow employees. This complete protection is. i if ?: i It i I . il OPEN TO ALL COMPETENT WORKMEN Who assume their part of the attendant moral and financial burdens. The old age pension, used by many corporations to tie men to work regardless of fairness or unfairness of conditions, hours of wages, now also being urged as a function of national government, is in this case provided by the workmen themselves out of their weekly earnings. Under this system the beneficiary is at liberty to change employers or move to any section of the country most beneficial to health or conducive to material welfare, or even to leave the country. (One local member is now performing missionary work for the L. D. S. church in England, while still getting his pension from the union.) EMPLOYERS ARE LIKEWISE PROTECTED against hasty or arbitrary actions, changes in hours, wages or conditions, and particularly against suspension of production. The arbitration policy and agreements of I 5 is ,1 4 ii the union assure full and free discussion between employer and employee of all proposed changes and submission of unsolved questions to impartial arbitration, thus eliminating strikes and lockouts. Those who believe in these same policies are now sending their printing to offices operating under arbitration agreements. You should join them in the interest of prosperity. peace-promoti- ng mines have hitherto denied their employes all voice and share in determining their working conditions and any adequate machinery for the uncovering and adjustment of grievances. The day has passed when such a position can be justly maintained by any employer, or group of employers, in a country like ours. I have long advocated, and never more earnestly than now, a labor policy which con- ( ifliil ft cedes to the employes in every industrial unit what I believe to be a fundamental right, namely, the right to representation in the determination of those matters which affect their own eaci th il (C- off interests. Representation Just and Vital. As a member of President Wilson's first Industrial Conference, I used these words: Representation is a principle which is fundamentally just and vital to the successful conduct of industry. This is the principle upon which the democratic government of our country is IF svai it C ode founded. On the battlefields of France this nation poured out its blood freely in order that democracy might be maintained and that its beneficent institutions might become available in other lands as well. Surely it is not consistent for us as Americans to demand democracy in government and practice autocracy in industry. This is a conviction I have long held. It is a principle which, in the capacity of an individual stockholder, I have vigorously urged as the most promising measure for putting an end to industrial misunderstanding and conflict. Bt ! re 10 ter loi wl on sol eati esti aty Harry Watson, Jr., Follies comedi coming to the Orpheum next week. TEMPERATURE OF SOLAR FACE. SU nu in inii O en ee test SYNCOPATED STEPPERS AT THE HIPPODROME The latest estimate of the absoh temperature of the solar surface Billy Howard and his Syncopated Steppers will open an engagement at the Hopodrome thatre starting with that of F. Biscoe of Warsaw, who ter, computation is based upon the inti m sity of radiation for individual wai It length in the solar spectrum as obta les at t ei ed with the spectro-bolomete- r todays performances, in a series of high class musical comedies. The company consists of a score or more of beautiful girls and artists of reputation extending from coast to coast. Mr. Howard will be supported by the Four Boyces, including little Bobbie Boyce, the youngest tramp comedian on the American stage, and little Millie Boyce, known on both coasts as the miniature soubrette. The Supreme Harmony Four, a quartette of exceptional merit, last year of the Keith Circuit; Lucy Templeton, the renowned comedienne, who made herself famous in the east by her vocal version of St. Louis Blues. In the cast is included several other specialty artists who have appeared for several seasons on the vaudeville stage.. In addition to the foregoing will be shown a special feature picture production, this weeks offering being House Peters in You Never Know Your Luck, said by prominent critics to be the greatest picture in which Mr. Peters has ever starred. Performances will continue from 1 to 11 daily, with the exception of Mondays, with an entire change of program every Saturday. This is the only Musical Comedy company, De Luxe, appearing: in any theatre west of Chicago at a top price of twenty-fiv- e cents, prices for both afternoon and evening performances being ten, fifteen and twenty-fiv- e cents. Smithsonian Astrophysical obsen tory. He gets an average value of 300 plus 100 degrees centrigrade. sb ite eta sin & 3t ATI Up to September 16, Montreal e vators had unloaded 93,881,325 busb of grain from lake vessels, and had the same time loaded ocean vessi with 88,849,941 bushels, according records of the Harbor Commissionei ten m Oil dli ;a ite nh office. tat te eh The Niftiest Line of no ini nc Suitings and iai mj ej Overcoat Patterns te to at the best prices to be found in the City 4 ia ! Hi 10 WHETHER HONEST OR NOT. IK si'j !i i! i r.i SALT LAKE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION No. 115 (Organized April 6, 1868) Wasatch 7762 311 Scott Building The new carpet in the old church was not yet paid for and debt stared the congregation in the face. The pastor advanced to the front of the platform and with great fervor and determination anounced: We have tried every way we could think of to raise this money. We have had sociables and concerts, and we have done everything we could that was honest. Now we are going to try a bazaar. tit Dont overlook ot-- ceptional offer of and extra pair of for $34.50 r ex suit re! Pr in punts to hi Wi St lil |