Evening Star Newspaper, April 29, 1937, Page 6

A—0 ¥¥ THE EVENING Big Interests Put Iron Collar About Labor’s Neck, Says Ford Exposes Futile Efforts of Unions to “Sell” Jobs and Declares Workers Are Being Misled. BY A. M. SMITH. @pecial Dispatch to The Star. DETROIT, April 20 (N.AN.A)—Is there any alliance between the so-called “financial interests” and the labor unions? Recent statements made by Henry Ford, and thrown into interviews not specifically taking up this question, have raised the query as to whether he believes there is such an if he does believe this, alliance, and might be his explanation of it. interview, he was asked to go fully subject. “In recent statements, kill competition,” the interviewer said. people do not see this connection and do not % understand just what your meaning you explain more fully, and also state attitude toward labor unions?” “Yes,” Mr. Ford replied, “and I am glad to explain something every employe, ev chanic, and every one else ought to know. “They are being told, these days, tha movement has been started to improve their condition. They do not know that it is ment to get them into a corner where have very little to say about it understood that this movement is one the fight between independent busir financially-controlled business, the would be clearer to them.” This idea of labor unions and their«s activities as the result of clashing business interests appeared to the interviewer as & new wrinkle in the industrial fabric, and Mr. Ford was asked to “iron it out.” Says Independents Take Lead. “Independent business,” he said, “keeps doing two things that money- eontrolled business would rather put the brakes on. Independent business creates all the improvements we have in working conditions and it raises wages not when it must, but when it can. And, of course, as long as the independents do this, the other kind of business must keep step. “Without independent competition, more money would go into dividends, and less into improvements and wages. Corporation-controlled businesses | welcome anything that cuts down rompetition. They have trade as- sociations for this purpose. They also indorse every political scheme that {imits competition, because it limits wages too. If it were not for the independents, the others could do as | they please. “The difference between these two $vpes of business is that the inde- pendents are free to go ahead when- ever they can: the others must get their orders from New York. If they want to raise wages 5 cents an hour, | permission must be granted by New York.” Mr. Ford was asked to state some facts or history that would support this last statement. Aim to Keep Wages Down. “Ever since the war,” he continued, “two campaigns have been promoted | fn this country by the financial in- | terests of New York—one to keep wages down, the other to put prices up. We know that, because we have been invited in. Our business is criti- eized because we will not go in with | them on such a program. A lot of | ‘Today, in an Mr. Ford, you have asserted that financial interests are behind the 3 unions and that the purpose of the strikes is to But if they what into the “Many is, wil your own very me- t a great a move- they will phase of ness and picture Henry Ford. prices would go up in this country | next week if they could persuade us | to join them. | “If they could get our help to drive workingmen into unions, some wages would immediately start to go down. Don't take my word for it—just watch and see what happens if independent concerns are roped up in this country. “Financial interest in New York have always controlled a large part of American industrial management. But control of management is not enough for them. They must control labor also, else their whole scheme ; fails. They must have some one who can get the employes under command Jjust as the managers are. The finan- cial interests cannot do this them- selves—that would be too barefaced. “It must be done by some one who can get all the employes together under one controlling hand. And what is the quickest way to do that? Simply corner the jobs that men must have. If you say to people, ‘You can't get & job anywhere unless you have & card from me,’ you have immense power—if you can say that. If you can say, ‘You can't get a work card unless you pay for it and pay in addi- ‘uon a monthly rate for the privilege | of working,” you have immense reve- nue. | Effort to “Sell” Jobs. “A monopoly of jobs in this country is just as bad as a monopoly of bread. | Detroit ‘selling’ jobs at the Ford Mo- tor Co. by making ignorant persons believe they have a ‘pull’ with us. Some men have been swindled out of $25 to $100 for jobs in our factory. were properly dealt with. “But now along comes another group that says: ‘There are 100.000 jobs out at Ford's. If you want one of them, pay us registration fee and so Sometimes we catch people here in | This was done by crooks, and they | much every month and we will pass you in, and you can work as long as you pay us.’ This group is asking us to sit still while it sells our men the jobs that have always been free. It we agreed to this they would have complete control of American labor, a control no one has ever before had.” “But how does this labor organiza- tion and collection of membership fees connect with your assertion that financial interests are back of it?" Mr, Ford was asked. Claims Strikes Gained Little. “The connection between - finance and strikes—or so-called strikes—is right there, for many of them were not strikes at all. What was the great result of those strikes? Merely that numbers of men have put their neck into an iron collar. I am only trying to show them who owns the collar, Have the men gained any- thing by their strikes? Nothing. In most cases, even with the small pay ralses they received, it will take from 22 months to 5 years to make up the wages they lost. “Read the so-called ‘agreements’ that were reached, and see if you can detect the slightest gain for the men. Labor itself will say that it won little besides ‘recognition.’ " “What, in your opinion, is the meaning of that recognition?” he was asked. “Simply this,” he replied. “The type of management that already wears the New York collar now agrees to ‘recognize’ the employe who wears the same collar. After that, every- thing will be nice! A little group of those who control both capital and labor will sit down in Nevw: York, and they will settle prices, and they will settle dividends, and they will settle wages. The mechanic, the skilled factory man, will take what is left. These are his new bosses—not the bosses who pay him wages, but the bosses who make him pay them. Believes Common Sense Will Prevail. “I do not believe that the artisans and craftsmen and mechanics and all the useful workers of America can be fooled by this very long. I have worked with them for more than 50 years, and I know they have common sense enough to see the game, and get out of it. “The Wagner act is just one of those things that help to fasten con- trol upon the necks of labor. Labor doesn’'t see that yet. It thinks the ‘Wagner act helps it. All you have to do is to wait and see how it works. It fits perfectly the plans to get con- trol of labor.” “But do you propose to put up some stiff opposition to any group that undertakes to bring your workmen into labor unions?” Mr. Ford was asked. | “I have never sought to prevent our men from joining any association | —religions, racial, political or social,” he replied. “No one who believes in | American freedom would do that. Buy From an Electrical Dealer WESTINGHOUSE REFRIGERATORS RRING NA. 2160 ‘ . . 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Coupont another pou customer), T G T may redeem this coupon be when terms of Nash Chemical | EVERY POUND LAR PRICE Just as it is, right out of the can, FLASH — the PASTE Cleaner — gets right down into the pores, knuckles and joints of the hands, and drags out every speck of dirt, and grime quickly, can O fore May 15, offer have been fully Co., Cambridge, Hoss. STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1937. When our men ask about unions, I give them the same advice as when they ask about any of the other schemes that are always aimed at working men’s wages. I say to them: ‘First, figure out for yourself what you are going to get out of it. If you go into a union, they have got you, but what have you got?’ “We think our men ought to con- sider whether it is necessary.for them to pay some outsider every month for the privilege of working at Ford's. Or, whether any union can do more for them than we are doing. Invites Competition. “If union leaders think they can manage an automobile factory better than we can, amd pay better wages under better working conditions than we can, why don’t they build a factory of their own and show us up? They have the capital—they have all the money they need and & lot more. The country is big; they have the men; and think of all the union customers they would have! “If the union leaders are sincere they should go into business them- selves. If they have thought out & better way to manage business, let them demonstrate what it is. If they can’t do that, why do they pretend they can? Of course, the financial interests that use strikes as a way to | build up unions would not permit them to build new factories—big, progressive factories with everything in them that union leaders now de- mand. They don’'t want that. They want control. I have always made a better bargain for our men than an outsider could. We have never had to bargain against our men, and we don't expect to begin now. “There is no mystery about the connection between corporation con- trol and labor control. They are simply the two ends of the same rope. To have one you have to have the other. You may say as emphatically as you like that all this does not dis- turb me in the least. I know the scheme is wrong, and it will not work. “America is too big for that. But I would like to see the little fellow escape the game that the big fellows are playing with him. I would like to see him wake up.” (Copyright, 1937, by the North Americaa Newspaper Alliance, Inc.) Trap Net Catches High. LEONARDTOWN, Md,, April 29 (#). —Trap netters in this area report catches as high as 1,000 pounds a day. “Buy” boats, operating in the vicinity, take all the fish and hurry them to the city markets. W.B. Moses & Co. 80 PCT. MORE COINS ARE DELIVERED IN "37 Upturn in Business Is Respon- sible, S8ays Director of Mint of Increass. By the Associated Press. ‘The mints are producing the great- est number of coins in their history, and Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross says an upturn in business is re- sponsible. “I think there is no question but | that the demand for coins of all sizes | is the result of business activity,” Mrs. | Ross told a House Appropriations | Subcommittee. | She said that in the first eight months of the present fiscal year 80 | per cent more coins were delivered by the mints than in the same period last year. She submitted a schedule showing 652,259,535 coins with a total value of $39,844,126.45 were minted in the nine months ended March 31. . European explorers first observed smoking in Santo Domingo, where it was a habit of the nativi e OPEN EVERY NIGHT o METROPOLITAN BuTLEr FLYNN PAINTS *GLASS “FAIRFAX” Brand Porch and Deck Enamel Special $1'49 half gal. 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I will make Vice President and General Manager 94.85 Lovely Early American Bedroom Group This group is open stock—several types of chests, vanities, beds, highboys, etc., from which you may select . . . all in mahogany and gum. The three pieces shown, including lovely sleigh bed, are priced much below regular are proportionately low. Four-Piece Modern Group $169 ...and Five-Piece Mode all other pieces rn Group (Twin Beds) $198 Simmons Twin Studio Couches $39.95 Regulanly $49.95 $29.95 Regularly $39.95 Simmons Innerspring Mattresses $ Regularly $19 1 4.95 19 95 Regularly $24.50 Use Our Budget Plan! Take 12 Months to Pay! W hen Purchased on Qur 12-Month Budget Plan, a Small Car rying Charge Is Added W.B. Moses & Co. 804 Rhode Island Avenue N.E.