The Butler County press. [volume], February 10, 1922, Image 1

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VOL. XXI. No. 43
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Washington.—President Gompers in
the February number of the American
Federationist, gives a searching anal
ysis of the ruling of the interstate
commerce commission declining to ac
cede to 4he request o£ Henry Ford
to reduce rates on shipments of coal
over his railroad.
"The philosophy of our present gov
ernment is almost beyond understand
ing," declares Mr. Gompers. "We re
tain our archaic anti-combination laws
in the hope of preventing the forma
tion of trusts, because it is held that
the formation of trusts destroys the
probability of competition. On the
other hand we maintain an interstate
commerce commission, one of whose
functions is to prevent effective com
petition.
"The commission has placed itself
,.on record as occupying the position,
which from the outset, it wa9 bound
ultimately to occupy, as the defender
of those railway systems which are
least efficient in the transportation
of commodities. The commission has
declined to permit the Detroit, Toledo
and Ironton railroad to reduce freight
rates on coal. The railroad is able
and willing to transport coal at a rate
lower than the one which now exists.
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The present rate allows the company
a profit which is larger than the com
pany desires to have.
"The commission does not deny that
the railroad can transport coal at a
profit at a lower rate than the rate
now in effect, but it refuses to permit
a reduction in the rate on^the ground
that if the Detroit, Toledo and Iron
ton were permitted to reduce its rarte
on coal the result would be unfair to
other railroads which claim they can
not make a profit at a lower rate. Not
only that but the commission believes
a disadvantage would be placed upon
coal mines not situated on the D. T.
& I. line. The commission finds that
3 5 per cent of the coal transported
by the E). T- & I. is produced in mines
on that line while the balance comes
over that line from, coal mines situat
ed on connecting roads. The commis
sion finds it impossible to reduce the
coal rates on these connecting roads,
and therefore it declines to allow the
Lt a
FORD DOES'NT WANT IT
BUT INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION IN
SITSTS THAT HE CONTIUE (iOlIGING
PUBLIC SO THAT OTHER ROADS
MAY DO THE SAME
Greater Need For Intelligent Management For Railroad
Systems Than For Arbitrary Control,
Says Gompcrs
CLEAN SWEEP SALE
MEN'S and YOUNG MEN'S
$2.50 MEN'S WORK PANTS—Medium and heavy
weight Worsteds, dark patterns QQ
sizes, 28 to 44 Jpl.OO
$3.50 DRESS PANTS—In blue serge, tfJO OO
stripe worsteds, cassimeres, cheviots
$4.50 DRESS PANTS—Including every size up to
50 waist measure, in stripe worsteds, flannels,
blue serge, fancy suitings tO OO
and cassimeres 90*a0
$5.00 DRESS PANTS—We've reduced hundreds
of pairs of our fine pants for this sale at $3.88.
Every suit size up to 50 waist measure winter
and medium weights are here all OO
shades and all colors. «J«J.OO
$6.00 DRESS PANTS—Blue all wool serge, finest
striped worsteds, velours, suitings, pencil
stripes and fancy cassimeres all $izes, OO
styles and colors Pt-. JO
E O E I A E
RED TRUNK
THE WORKWOMAN'S STORE
211 HIGH STREET RENTSCHLER BI,1X
jr. *f -,/^v
D. T. & I. to reduce its rates.
"There is a wide margin of dif
ference between reckless rate-cut
ting and the basing of a service price
on the cost of that service. The in
terstate commerce commission doe^
not deny that the D. T. & I. is able to
transport coal at a profit at a rate
lower than the rate now in effect. In
asmuch, however, ?s other roads can
not do likewise the D. T. & I. is pocket
ing a prolit beyond its desires.
"The D. T. & I. is owned by Henry
Ford. There are many just criti
cisms of Ford methods in industry,
but the fact that Mr. Ford has succeed
ed in making himself the richest man
in the country without bringing upon
himself the hatred which ordinarily
comes with such an amassing of
wealth is proof of the fact that the
country knows Henry Ford primarily
as a man of service and not as profit
eer.
"The decision of the interstate
corfimerce commission in the case of
Mr. Ford's railroad will call into se
rious question our whole method and
machinery of 'controlling' the rail
roads of the country.
"What our railroad^ systems need
most is intelligent management
rather than arbitrary control."
las
RENT LAW ARGUED BE
FORE SUPREME COURT
Washington.—Does the New York
state rent act violate the federal con
stitution? The supreme court has
heard argument upon the question.
Counsel for the rent go\igers con
tended that in passing the rent act of
1920 -the state legislature suspended
"the federal organic law on the theory
that an emergency existed," holding
that a fancied or real public emer
gency can not suspend or repeal the
constitution. The deputy attorney
general of the state in his argument
declared that the law was enacted
to prevent the eviction from their
homes of 100,000 families in New
York city. He held that the law was
in accord with public interest and in
.strict conformity to the constitution.
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foR ONCie
SAM
HOW "COMPANY UNIONS"
STRIP THE WORKERS
Constitutions, by-laws and
agreements of "company unions"
are usually drafted by a corpor
ation attorney, stressing with le
gal seriousness the hocus pocus
of "workers' rights" and the elab
orate method of electing represen
tatives to consider industrial re
lations with the 'ipresident and
officers of the company," and giv
ing in minute detail directions for
preparing the ballot and voting,
to "insure absolute secrecy," as if
to guard against the ridiculous
contingency of the company
"stuffing the box."
The hollow pretense of demo
cratic government suggested by
the regulations fbr voting is
forcefully exposed when placed
beside "the right to hire and (lis-'
charge shall be vested exclusively
in the company *and shall not be
abridged by anything contained
herein." That section is the key
to the economic door which locks
out all the high-sounding blar
ney about workers' rights, fair
elections for representatives and
power to negotiate wage scales.
Considered in conjunction with
the usual provisions that the com
pany shall bear all expenses of
joint meetings, traveling ex
penses' of workers' representa
tives and pay -for time lost at
tending joint meetings, the sham
is complete.
These are the outstanding facts
in the "company union" which ex
pose its vicious hypocricy:
The company does the firing ab
solutely.
The company has equal repre
sentation with the workers in all
steps leading to a change in the
wage scale governing the work
ers, and no change can be made
except upon the vote of at least
one company man.
There is no defense fupd and
can be none.
The "company union," there
fore, by defining the worker's
"rights" and administering them,
renders him economically help
less.
Washington. Successful resist
nice by legitimate trade unions
tgainst attempts of greedy employers
i o break down hard-won living stand
ards of the workers has given palsy
to promoters of so-called "company
unions." These evangelists of six
teenth-century feudalism know the
•drock principles upon which the
Vompany union" rests are low wages,
iig hours of labor and absolute con
trol by the company of working eon
litions, and complete mastery over
the workers' lives.
"Company Union" Not Voluntary
They \yell understand that no man
voluntarily and willingly accepts such
rule. And they do not undervalue the
moral effect upon the victimized work
ers of successful resistance to tyranny
of other men of labor who are enrolled
in the legitimate organizations1 of the
working people. Hence they are feac
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RATTLING OF OLD BONES
HEARD AS "COMPANY UNION" DRAGS SERFDOM FROM
CENTURY CLOSET-ANCIENT SKELETON SHOWS
SIGNS OF RENEWED LIFE
Attempt of Industrial Barons to Renew Old-time Control Over Workers
Made Hopeless By Solidarity of Legitimate Trade Unions
ful hence in their fear th^y evangel
ize and exhort their^ laborers with
blather on "loyalty to the company."
fealty to the company's interest,"
"fair treatment for the company."
They clear the factory floors for bi
monthly dances at which the president
of the company and his wife are the
guests of honor and receive the hom
age of the workers and their families.
Then when they think the proper
loyal" sentiment has been aroused
they cut wages or lengthen hours
through a "company meeting," at
which they are told, through their al
leged "shop committee," that the com
pany needs money to pay dividends, or
to increase "capital investment," or to
"extend invested functions," or sur
plus for fixed charges," all of which
is as Sanskrit to the "loyal" workers
—just what it is intended to In-.
Workers Always Lose
ytiil the worker.- realise,even thuugh
they do not grasp the riddle of terms,
that is a queer sort of union or part
nership in which they always lose and
the company always wins.
'haI .ine !e i ay of mental ii: hi.
that siii-'.ht. \'moii of unfair t!i\ i..i i.
portends the breaking up of the
company union." And that is what is
taking place now, because the "com
pany union" is bound to go upon the
reeks the moment it steers its course
by the chart upon which it is organ
ized—tearing down the living stand
ard of the workers.
This purpose may be hidden for
a time in insurance schemes, in profit
sharing devices that won't bear close
inspection, in "friendly visiting" and
welfare work (which, in many in
stances, is merely a cloak for prying
into the private affairs of the workers
to obtain information as to their meth
ods of life), in plastering the work
room walls with "golden rule" mot
toes, in which the workers are urged
to give the best that is in them as a
proof of "loyalty" to the company. The
policy of skinning labor is made a
science in the "company union" and
every suggestion to further that pol
icy finds a ready sale and a liberal
reward. The basic theory of that sci
ence is that the workers are there to
give and the company to take.
More Power Than Feudal Lord
The "company unions" wield their
greatest sway in times of industrial
depression for the reason that the
industrial baron exercises a greater
SENATE WANTS
TO KNOW ALL
ABOUT ESl'lONAGERS
Washington.—By resolution the sen
ate has called upon the attorney gen
eral to inform it of the names and
addresses of all persons indicted and
prosecuted ynder the espionage act
or for conspiracy to violate war laws,
the statutes under which indictments
were brought, synopsis of offense
charged, date and placfe of each con
viction, sentence, time of expiration,
appeals and results, and action taken
by the executive in commuting sen
tences and by the pardon board in
paroling defendants. Data is also
asked of reviews of cases resulting in
unfavorable recommendations for
commutation or parole,
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BUTI^R COUNTFY PRESS.
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HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10,1922 ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
16th
power over the being of he worker
than did the feudal baron. The serf of
old confi imi be chased otf the land to
which lie was attached. A least his
sustenance was assere.i. The indus
trial serf has no land and lie may be
driven oft" the job whenever the indus
trial baron so wills it. Not only that,
the fellow may be blacklisted with
other industrial barons, boycotted,
hounded and even jailed if his baron
wishes lo use all the industrial and
legal resources lie possesses as a
b::ron.
Trad*' I nions the Leash
There is only one restraining
:!u. i.ee winch holds him in leash.
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the legitimate trade union,
if which he copies and the
of which In? must finally
he would have industrial
lo ju-lice both to the. com
o
the
workers.
Ml Ml
Contract Si&ncd With Em
plovers is Effective Until
February 1, l»2:i
lJiuuklyn, X. Y. The: i-1 hour week
will remain in force untjl February
1, 192y, iii the fur dyeing industr\ of
this city. This iV guaranteed by tin
agreement reached between the In
ternational Fur Workers' Union and
the Brooklyn Fur Dressers' and Dyer
Association, which empjoys 70 per
cent of the 2,000* members of the
union. Independent shops in which
'the remainder are employed usually
follow the lead of the dyers' associa
cion in wage settlements. The agree
ment also provides for continuance of
present wages, overtime pay, pay for
holidays and all union rules respect
ing working conditions.
A Ri ta
CANADA AIDS WORK
LESS
Ottawa, Ont.—The dominion gov
ernment will issue federal warrants
for relief of unemployment, special
provision being made to assist British
and Canadian war veterans until
March 31. The federal government
binds itself to reimburse municipal
authorities to the extent of one-half
of outlay for unemployment. The
municipalities will-pay the remainder
In providing employment by' public
works the municipalities provide one
sixth of the extra cost above normal
the provinces paying two-sixths and
the dominion three-sixths.
A
SEAMEN TO BUY SHIPS
Paris.—The French government is
selling its mercantile fleet, and the
Seamen's Federation of France is
making arrangements to buy 17 of
the best of the ships,, 112,000 ton
nage, to be operated co-operatively
by the union, following the example
set by the Italian seamen's guild
which owns a co-operative Vnerchant
iieet,
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Washington.—The senate commit
tee which investigated the unsuccess
ful efforts of the mine operators of
West Virginia and Kentucky to make
slaves of the miners of those states
by starvation, evictions, imprisonment,
bludgeoning and gunmen bullying has
submitted its report to the senate.
Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, chdirman
of the committee, who also is chair
man of the standing committee on ed
ucation and labor, after condemning
both operators and miners in the re
port, personally recommends the es
tablishment of another wage labor
hoard to be composed of three repre
sentatives each of the public, the em
ployers and the workers, appointed
by the president of the United States.
It is the design that the findings of
this board "shall be published broad
east and enforced by public opinion."
The bill embodying the plan to be
introduced in the senate will have an
industrial code, defining rights of
employers and workers and setting
forth their duties toward "the great
third party—the public." The pro
posed code defines in detail many
'rights," including the right of women
who work in the mines to receive
the same pay as men. Of this right
the senator observes: "Few women
are engaged in any way in mining,
but it may be as well to announce
this proposition as to pass it by,"
The bill would also prohibit the em
ployment in the mines of children
under 16 years, "unless permits have
been issued under state authority."
In We-1 Virginia this prohibition
would be meaningless, as the mine
owners would see to it that any child
might be forced into the mines and
robbed of his childhood by "permits
issued under state authority."
In this elaboi-ate code of "rights"
it is declared that "when a dispute
controversy arises between opera
tors and mine workers there should
be no strike or lockout pending a con
ference or a hearing and determina
tion of the facts and principles in
volved."
Senator Kenyon says this pian is
not compulsory arbitration, it is not
made clear, however, why there should
be enacted an unnecessary law for
mediation ami conciliation, "wiih a
code," when there is already a bu
'••all of 1 he ii,-i)artment of labor in
i.s ettce fur that purpose, read !u
n-t when called upon.
Of course, the orw11! i ei I measure
loe. noi provide in terms for I he
1.ifnI of compulsion which requires tin
dragging before the court by the force
of Maekjack, billy and nightstick of
the labor disputrmH: That system
.•rude, unrefined. The M.odern coin*
lull iort is effected lo. r.ierc subtle cru­
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8
"PUBLIC OPINION COURT"i
DESIGNED TO FORCE LABOR INTOf GROUP SLAV
ERY WOULD BE RESULT IF SENATOR
KEN\UN'S RECOMMENDATION
WERE ADOPTED
Public Opinion Would Be Influenced Through Hired Press
Agents to Break Workers By Industrial
Oppression
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OOVE&NM&MT
elties. One of them would be the giv
ing of the authority of law to a horde
of hired press agents who are paid
to misrepresent and tell half truths
in order to influence "public opinion"
against the labor movement, with
the object finally of breaking the work
ers by industrial oppression.
"Public opinion" is an abstract
term which covers a vast range of
thought, sometimes based upon know-,
ledge gained by a study of given facts,
more often the result of suggestion
from reading the "opinions of others.
As there are thousands of "public
opinion" factories in this country,
each with an organ trumpeting into
the public ear the kind of "opinions"
it desires the public to hold, the prop
osition to create a "court of public
opinion" does not insure the sound
ness or the justice of the public judg
ment upon the matter in interest.
Since these factories of public opinion
are necessary to the progress and de
velopment of great industrial corpor
ations, both for suppression of facts
and the invention of issues, it is
quite clear that in the main the "court
of public opinion" will render its ver
dict in accord with £he views of the
loudest howlers. Naturally these will
be for* the interests which have the
largest number of mediums to reach
the public. Needless to say they are'
not the workers.
Senator Kenyon must know that a
law of the character he proposes
could not prevent the recurrence of
conditions prevailing, and which have
prevailed for years in West Virginia.
The mine operators responsible for
those conditions care nothing about
laws. There isn't a law in the politi
cal, moral or divine code which they
have not booted with contempt. It is
ridieuloute to think of "public opinion"
as a curative for a corporation which
brings gunmen into a state in defi
ance of law ostensibly to protect prop
erty but in reality to murder without
danger of prosecution, which evicts
sick women and under-nourished chil
dren, which boycotts persons who as
sist these unfortunates with food,
medicines and clothing, which black
lists, hounds and persecutes workers
who refuse to surrender rights which
Senator Kenyon's code declares to be
lawful.
iposed bill is just another
fasten upon the people in
roup slavery.
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The
effort
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WVMAKiNf: .11ii fts
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Tienton, \. I.— Peaceful picketing
•:i \ewUeney is illegal. A 9-5 de
cision
of tjlie c.urt of errors and ap
peals i, so decided in an injunction
case a: liiist union machinists.
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Get Shoes that will
"hold up"
hat's the way to save real money in shoe
buying. We sell shoes that will hold up, but
there's no "hold-up" in our prices—they're
the lowest good quality will permit.
A great variety of new styles ready—plain
or fancy—in all leathers, with Goodyear
welted soles and rubber heels all sizes:
$4.95
FIT-RITE SHOE STORE
218 S. Third Street Opp. Palace Theatre