Page:Walter Renton Ingalls - Current Economic Affairs (1924).pdf/183

Rh We do not deny the right of labor to enter into unions, either company or industrial or of national scope, for the betterment of its condition; but we uphold the right and freedom of every man to work without any artificial restrictions. We do not deny the right of labor to strike, but we gainsay the right of labor performing indispensable and immediate public service to strike in a body and without notice, and we believe that there should be stringent legislation in the interest of the public to prevent such acts.

The right of every man and woman to work in any occupation for which fitted, free from coercion, intimidation or violence, should be upheld courageously and effectively by all executive officers of the governments —federal, state, county, and municipal—and adequate means to insure this right should be provided and used. There should be legislation penalizing severely any persons who individually or collectively attempt to curtail the inherent right to work and to enjoy liberty that is possessed by every citizen.

We condemn all policies of labor effecting restrictions upon production, such as limitation of allowable work, limitation of number of men in the trade, limitation of number of apprentices, jurisdictional allocation, the imposition of penalties and fines. Our objections to such restrictions are not only because of their promotion of class interests, but also and especially because they restrict production and therefore are contrary to the national welfare.

While we advocate the abolition of the 12-hour shift in continuous industries as a desirable thing to accomplish and appreciate that the substitute for two shifts of 12 hours each is necessarily three shifts of eight hours