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Unfair Employers Take Advantage of War to Fight Union Labor

By GRANT HAMILTON

Recently the Council of National Defense issued a statement urging that standards obtaining in industry should not be disturbed until such time as an emergency arose which, in the opinion of the Council of National Defense, demanded changes. Even should an emergency arise no changes were advised except upon specific recommendations by the Council of National Defense. Immediately there campaign of misinterpretation and an attempt by unfair employers to break down existing standards and labor laws. Organized labor has resisted this attempt and will resist to the uttermost the grad-grinds who assume there is an opportunity afforded by war conditions to strike a heavy blow at union labor.

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A few days ago a conference was held in the Department of Labor at which were present Secretary of Labor Wilson, Secretary of Commerce Redfield, President John Williams, of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers; Vice-President Larkin, of the same association; James Sullivan, assistant to Samuel Gompers, of the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense, and Grant Hamilton, representing the American Federation of Labor.

The subject of the conference was the general labor situation in the steel industry, with particular reference to strikes then in progress. The attitude of the Council of National Defense was reiterated by Secretary Wilson, and he being a member of the Council his statement is official. The secretary, addressing President Williams, of the Steel Workers, said:

"The Council of National Defense takes this position, that the standards that have been established by law, by mutual agreement or by custom should

not be changed at this time; that where either the employer or the employe has been unable under normal conditions to change the standards to their own liking, they should not take advantage of the present abnormal conditions to establish new standards. Among those standards is the standard of living. The Council of National Defense recognized the fact that the standard of living is an indefinite standard, difficult to determine, that it is almost entirely dependent upon the rate of wages retaining the same purchasing power. If the wages received will not purchase as much, then the standard of living is lowered. If the wages received will purchase more, then the standard of living is increased. Because of the indefiniteness of the standard of living and the maintaining of it at the same point, the Council recognizes the fact that from time to time disputes will arise as to what is necessary to maintain that standard of living, but it feels that before any stoppage of work takes place in any industry in which the Government is interested for the maintenance of safety that the established agencies of the Government should be given an opportunity to use their good offices to bring about an adjustment of the impending dispute.

"Now, there is only one point aside from the wage question in which your organization is especially interested in connection with standards, and that is the question of recognition of the union. That is the one burning question in which, aside from these other questions, you are involved. I do not know the attitude of the other members of the Council on this particular point, but my own attitude is this, that capital has no right to interfere with workingmen organizing labor any more

than the workingman has a right to interfere with the capitalists organizing capital. The two are on a parity on that point, and so my feeling is that in the present emergency the employer has no right to interfere with you in your efforts to organize the workers into unions, just as you have no right to interfere with capitalists organizing capital into corporation. If you can get a condition where efforts to organize the workers are not interfered with and where a scale of wages is recognized that maintains the present standard of living, it occurs to me that for the time being no stoppage of work should take place for the purpose of forcing recognition of the union. course that would not interfere with the employers and yourselves entering into any arrangement for recognition that might be mutually agreeable."

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NOT MANAGING PROPERLY. "The eight-hour day has increased our earnings by millions and made our men better off," said Henry Ford, in an interview with a newspaper man.

The automobile man declared without reserve in favor of the shorter workday, which has been persistently urged by organized labor.

"I'm going to spread the gospel of the eight-hour working day," he said, "by public display of actual figures and statistics taken from the books of my own business.

"When you get down to eight hours you observe a wonderful increase of efficiency. When we put it into effect our product simply skyrocketed in output. The men were full of efficiency, life, ginger. They feel this Well, here's eight hours of hustle. I'll hustle, and earn my fair wage, and then I've got all the rest of the time to myself. I can improve myself. I'm not worn out, tied down. I'm a man."

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"How about the railroads, Mr. Ford?" asked the interviewer. "They claim the eight-hour day would be impossible."

"They don't run their locomotives eight hours at a stretch, do they?" he retaliated. "Why do they work their

men more? Is it because there are more men than locomotives? Or because men are easier to get?"

At this point the motor-maker handed out a free tip to the railroad operators.

"Tell them to diminish the weight of their rolling stock. Use better, lighter, steel. There's plenty of it, and it costs only a trifle more than the bad, heavy stuff they now use. They can cut the weight of their cars in half, carry more freight and passengers, make more money, use less fuel, and avoid wear and tear on their roadbeds. Why, there is no greater waste in the United States today than the waste of weight in steel."

"But other manufacturers say," the interviewer suggested, "that it's all right for Ford to talk, but 'we couldn't make the eight-hour day and the $5 wage pay us.'"

"I've already said," replied the Detroit manufacturer, "that any business man who can't make the eight-hour day pay is not managing his business properly.

"The great trouble with this country is that labor has never properly shared in the profits it has earned for capital."

WILL MEDIATE DISPUTES.

Cleveland, Ohio.-Recent strikes and lockouts in the building industry have resulted in the Building Trades Employers' Association creating a board of conciliation of seven men from each organization to settle industrial disputes. Where a dispute arises the arbitration committees in the respective trades will act and if unable to agree the matter will be referred to the board of conciliation. No strike or lockout shall be inaugurated until the board has attempted an adjustment. Jurisdictional disputes shall be acted on by the board without reference to trade arbitration committees.

While the present plan is yet in its infancy both sides are hopeful that under it strikes and lockouts will be minimized.

Annual Living Cost for Family of Five is $1,486.75

Detroit, Mich.-It costs $1,486.75 to support a family of five in this city for one year. This does not include provision for old age, extended sickness, literature, school books, ice in hot weather, insurance on household goods, care of the teeth, or fruits, such as bananas, lemons and oranges. One concert a year is permitted, and the family can spend on an average a fraction over 2 cents per member per week on other amusements.

The above estimate was submitted by Wm. D. Mahon, president of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employes, at wage arbitration hearings. The figures were not denied by the Detroit United Railways, whose statement on increased cost of material rather supported the unionist's claims.

President Mahon's estimate, prepared last April, is based on figures furnished by organized street car men in this city.

Coal, 6 tons, at $9.25 per ton,

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brooms, at 50c each, $1.50; brushes, $1; gas mantles or lamp glasses and lighting utensils, 75c; stove utensils and polish, 50c; shoe polish, laces, etc., 75c; renewal of furniture and bedding, $60 Foodstuff-Bread for family, 20c per day, $73; cakes and pastry, per day, 15c, $54.75; milk, 15c per day, $54.75... Meat, 50c per day. Potatoes for family, at 80c per peck, 1 peck week.... Sugar, 5 pounds per week, at 10c pound

....

Tea, 10c per week.... Coffee, 1 pound per week, at 30c

64.50

182.50 182.50

41.60

26.00

5.20

15.60

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week, $4.16; onions, 5c a week, $2.60; turnips, carrots, lettuce and other vegetables, 15c a week, $7.80... Fruits-1 barrel apples, $4; preserving one-half crate strawberries, $2; preserving one-half crate raspberries, $2; preserving three baskets peaches, $2,50; preserving two baskets pears, $1.50; preserving one basket plums, 75c; sugar for above, $1..... Butter, 4 lbs. per week, at 45c per lb., $93.60; lard, 1 lb. per week, at 25c per lb., $13; eggs, 12 doz. per per doz.,

week, at 40c

$31.20; cheese, 1⁄2 lb., at 12c, per week, $6.24....

14.56

20.75

144.04

$41.50

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OHIO RECOGNIZES UNIONS. Dayton, Ohio.-Governor Cox will appoint four trade unionists members of the Ohio branch, Council of National Defense. Unionists will also be appointed on local boards having charge of exemption from military service under the Federal conscription law.

The State executive made this agreement at a conference in this city with officers of the Ohio Federation of Labor and other trade unionists. Secretary-Treasurer Donnelly, of the State Federation of Labor, says: "We believe Ohio is the first State to secure this recognition of the right of workers to be represented upon these councils and boards."

"Every time a company which is stuffed with fat, says a writer in the Evening Mail, announces in the newspapers, 'Bonus to Employes,' we are filled with the dread that a mere typographical error will make it 'Bones to Employes.'"

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Circulation Department, International Union of Elevator Constructors
402-404 Perry Building, Philadelphia, Pa.

Please send The Elevator Constructor to the following address:

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