AN ERRONEOUS LABOR POLICY

"Managers sometimes forget," said Mr. F. C. Hood, treasurer of the Hood Rubber Company, in a speech at a conference of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, "that they must establish their credit with their employees-credit for honest leadership, credit for just dealings, credit for just wage payments, credit for right working conditions, credit for sympathy with human needs, credit for understanding the ambition of fellow workers, credit for the recognition of faithful service, credit for kindness and credit for thoughtfulness."

At the same time comes a report from J. D. Benton, managing director of the Philadelphia Textile Manufacturers' Association, that the textile manufacturers have decided to "free themselves from radical unionism" and that forty thousand employees have already been discharged there. He prophesies that between one hundred and ten and one hundred and twenty-five thousand Philadelphia textile employees will be out of work there this winter if they do not give up their radical ideas. The movement is directed against the Amalgamated Textile Workers, a radical organization that is known locally through in succession to the I. W. W. in Lawrence.

Is such a step in harmony with Mr. Hood's wise words? To discharge workers because of their radical tendencies does not seem to be the proper method of meeting the situation. These radical organizations have recruited their ranks largely from unskilled laborers who are discontented with the present order because of hideous working conditions, because they are forced to be homeless and wifeless. Does not such a procedure only add fuel to the flame?

Such a condition should be met by directing our efforts towards improving living conditions, towards making the condition such that the workers will not be tempted by radicalism. The worker's interest in his occupation should be stimulated. To successfully meet the labor problem, we must take account of the working man's philosophy and ideals; we must consider the rights of others and their point of view. We must not regard laborers as being a different class of people who must trust in the sagacity of their employers. The policy of paternalism is resented by the employees We must consider them as men like our selves. Democracy and success in labor relations depend on human faith and generosity.