been highly successful. More and more workers and labor organizations are showing an interest in these courses and in many instances extension classes have been undertaken in union halls. But Penn State, like so may other colleges and universities, which realize the vital need for labor education, lack resources to meet more than a fraction of these growing demands. We believe the answer to our increasing labor-education problem lies in the passage of the labor extension service bill. As a part of the public relations, the services of information, education, and research as outlined in this bill would prove invaluable to our workers. The need for labor education is recognized by all groups-labor, management, and the public. Interest in this subject is at an all-time peak. I may remind you that England for many years has had what is known as the Workers' Educational Association and observers have told us that "the odd thing about these workers is that they want education, they really do." The British workers were hungry for knowledge and the Workers' Educational Association fed them. Why can't we have the same thing here in our United States? I feel confident we can and I heartily believe that the answer to our workers' demand for more education lies in the passage of the labor extension service bill. We know that a majority of industrial workers have had little elementary schooling. Maybe that is the fault of formal education. Maybe it is the fault of the workers. Or maybe it just so happened. But experience and research has shown that in nearly every city there is an element of ambitious, interested workers, often stewards or officers of labor groups, who are seeking to get as adults some of the education and training they missed in school-particularly with reference to their own trade, industry, and union. And we also know that many employers say they prefer to deal with well-informed union leaders who can discuss the questions at issue with a full knowledge of the facts. You may ask what courses do workers want? Research shows us they include Such matters as economic problems of American industry, economics of individual industries, labor legislation and laws, social security, collective bargaining, history of the labor movement, consumers' problems, health and safety, current events, and government. There also are requests for practical courses in public speaking, parliamentary law, grievance procedures, shop-steward practice, and foreman training. The labor extension service bill provides a labor extension division to be created in the United States Department of Labor to serve the workers such as the agricultural extension services the farmers of our Nation and their families. This will provide for our wage and salary workers a service that they have long been looking for. It has proved a great success in the more than 25 years it has been available to the farmers, so why would it not prove even a greater success in the benefit of the working men and women of our Nation. The bill embodies a very constructive proposal for the improvement of industrial relations by making available to our wage and salary earners up-to-date facts relating to their work and lives. It also would provide for training in the interpretation and effective use of these facts by the wage earners and employees and as good citizens. Through a cooperative plan between the Department of Labor, colleges and universities in the various States, and the local groups of wage and salary earners requesting this service is the basic plan for the operation of this service. This program is fundamentally sound. The service would include classes and discussion groups for wage and salary earners who need to know more about their everyday problems in industry, in their communities, in the Nation, and the entire world. Available to the workers in search of knowledge would be institutes, forums, motion pictures, library services, research projects, help with conferences and exhibits. Under this plan the workers would be able to secure teachers in labor history, labor economics, collective bargaining, labor journalism, labor-management relations, and civic and community programs. The passage of this Labor Extension Service bill will mean that our colleges and universities can provide these labor extension services at the request of the labor organization. This is the first time a bill to provide a labor extension service for the 50,000,000 wage and salaries workers of our Nation have ever been introduced in Congress and the time to pass this bill is now. The plan for a labor extension service was discussed by labor organizations and other interested groups for the past 10 years. The National Committee for the Extension of Labor Education, of which I am a member, was formed to frame such a bill as the one now before you and to organize support for it. On the committee are officers of international labor unions, education and research directors, persons from labor education agencies and from interested colleges and universities. This committee serves as a clearing house through which all groups concerned may cooperate for this legislation. In material terms the status of wage earners and organized labor has been improved tremendously in the past 10 years. These years have built a record of accomplishment in promoting the economic well-being of wage earners, greater economic security against unemployment and old age, and greater recognition of the rights and responsibilities of workers. But our efforts to make educational opportunities available to the workers have not, however, kept pace with these developments. It is now time that our Congress make an effort to expand these opportunities to the greatest possible extent. The Labor Extension Service bill is a very modest, quite, nonprovocative bill in most respects, but I venture to say its final consequences will be more far reaching than any other bill passed in Congress. It is my sincere hope that this honorably body will act promptly to bring this bill out of committee and you representatives of our people here in Washington will give prompt thought to this bill for its early enactment. I thank you. Mr. McCOWEN. Do you have any other statements? Mr. MASON. That is all. I had some other remarks, but I know your time is limited. I trust your committee will give some thought to some of my statements. Mr. McCowEN. We thank you, sir. A statement has been handed me to be included in the record, from the National Catholic Welfare Conference, urging the early enactment of H. R. 6202. Without objection, this will be included in the record. (The statement is as follows:) STATEMENT OF REV. R. A. MCGOWAN, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ACTION, NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE The Social Action Department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference is happy to testify in favor of H. R. 6202, a bill which would provide for some 40,000,000 wage and salary earners a program similar to that carried on by the Agricultural Extension Service for the families of 6,000,000 farm operators. We look upon the establishment of a labor extension division within the Department of Labor as something more than a service to the wage earners of the United States. It would also be and this point cannot be emphasized too strongly-a service to the Nation as a whole. By making available to the workers of the United States specialized training in economics and the other social sciences, it would promote orderly collective bargaining and peaceful industrial relations. In the words of one of the sponsors of a similar bill for which H. R. 6202 has not been substituted, "it will likewise promote wider and wiser exercise of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the country." Too often in the past collective bargaining has degenerated into a formalized prelude to industrial conflict-a blind test of economic strength, rather than an honest seeking after an equitable solution to industrial problems. Too often, in the absence of a factual approach to the economics of collective bargaining, reason has given way to emotion and anger and eventually to economic warfare. It would be naive, of course, to suppose that merely by establishing a labor extension service under the auspices of the Federal Government we can hope to remove the element of conflict from American industrial life. But the establishment of a labor extension service would undoubtedly help. A Labor Extension Service would help to make available to the rank-and-file worker the basic information without which he cannot reasonably be expected to measure up to that high level of political and economic intelligence which is so essential to the successful functioning of democracy in a highly complex and highly industrialized society. The worker has a right to this service. He has a right to easy access to the authoritative material which is gathered by the various Government agencies, but which at present, in the absence of a widespread program of adult education, is made use of normally only by professional students of economics. He has a right to expect that his Government will do for him at least as much as it is doing (and has been doing these many years) for the farmers of the United States. been highly successful. More and more workers and labor organizations are showing an interest in these courses and in many instances extension classes have been undertaken in union halls. But Penn State, like so may other colleges and universities, which realize the vital need for labor education, lack resources to meet more than a fraction of these growing demands. We believe the answer to our increasing labor-education problem lies in the passage of the labor extension service bill. As a part of the public relations, the services of information, education, and research as outlined in this bill would prove invaluable to our workers. The need for labor education is recognized by all groups-labor, management, and the public. Interest in this subject is at an all-time peak. I may remind you that England for many years has had what is known as the Workers' Educational Association and observers have told us that "the odd thing about these workers is that they want education, they really do." The British workers were hungry for knowledge and the Workers' Educational Association fed them. Why can't we have the same thing here in our United States? I feel confident we can and I heartily believe that the answer to our workers' demand for more education lies in the passage of the labor extension service bill. We know that a majority of industrial workers have had little elementary schooling. Maybe that is the fault of formal education. Maybe it is the fault of the workers. Or maybe it just so happened. But experience and research has shown that in nearly every city there is an element of ambitious, interested workers, often stewards or officers of labor groups, who are seeking to get as adults some of the education and training they missed in school-particularly with reference to their own trade, industry, and union. And we also know that many employers say they prefer to deal with well-informed union leaders who can discuss the questions at issue with a full knowledge of the facts. You may ask what courses do workers want? Research shows us they include such matters as economic problems of American industry, economics of individual industries, labor legislation and laws, social security, collective bargaining, history of the labor movement, consumers' problems, health and safety, current events, and government. There also are requests for practical courses in public speaking, parliamentary law, grievance procedures, shop-steward practice, and foreman training. . The labor extension service bill provides a labor extension division to be created in the United States Department of Labor to serve the workers such as the agricultural extension services the farmers of our Nation and their families. This will provide for our wage and salary workers a service that they have long been looking for. It has proved a great success in the more than 25 years it has been available to the farmers, so why would it not prove even a greater success in the benefit of the working men and women of our Nation. The bill embodies a very constructive proposal for the improvement of industrial relations by making available to our wage and salary earners up-to-date facts relating to their work and lives. It also would provide for training in the interpretation and effective use of these facts by the wage earners and employees and as good citizens. Through a cooperative plan between the Department of Labor, colleges and universities in the various States, and the local groups of wage and salary earners requesting this service is the basic plan for the operation of this service. This program is fundamentally sound. The service would include classes and discussion groups for wage and salary earners who need to know more about their everyday problems in industry, in their communities, in the Nation, and the entire world. Available to the workers in search of knowledge would be institutes, forums, motion pictures, library services, research projects, help with conferences and exhibits. Under this plan the workers would be able to secure teachers in labor history, labor economics, collective bargaining, labor journalism, labor-management relations, and civic and community programs. The passage of this Labor Extension Service bill will mean that our colleges and universities can provide these labor extension services at the request of the labor organization. This is the first time a bill to provide a labor extension service for the 50,000,000 wage and salaries workers of our Nation have ever been introduced in Congress and the time to pass this bill is now, The plan for a labor extension service was discussed by labor organizations and other interested groups for the past 10 years. The National Committee for the Extension of Labor Education, of which I am a member, was formed to frame such a bill as the one now before you and to organize support for it. On the committee are officers of international labor unions, education and research directors, persons from labor education agencies and from interested colleges and universities. This committee serves as a clearing house through which all groups concerned may cooperate for this legislation. In material terms the status of wage earners and organized labor has been improved tremendously in the past 10 years. These years have built a record of accomplishment in promoting the economic well-being of wage earners, greater economic security against unemployment and old age, and greater recognition of the rights and responsibilities of workers. But our efforts to make educational opportunities available to the workers have not, however, kept pace with these developments. It is now time that our Congress make an effort to expand these opportunities to the greatest possible extent. The Labor Extension Service bill is a very modest, quite, nonprovocative bill in most respects, but I venture to say its final consequences will be more far reaching than any other bill passed in Congress. It is my sincere hope that this honorably body will act promptly to bring this bill out of committee and you representatives of our people here in Washington will give prompt thought to this bill for its early enactment. I thank you. Mr. McCOWEN. Do you have any other statements? Mr. MASON. That is all. I had some other remarks, but I know your time is limited. I trust your committee will give some thought to some of my statements. Mr. McCOWEN. We thank you, sir. A statement has been handed me to be included in the record, from the National Catholic Welfare Conference, urging the early enactment of H. R. 6202. Without objection, this will be included in the record. (The statement is as follows:) STATEMENT OF REV. R. A. MCGOWAN, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL ACTION, NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE The Social Action Department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference is happy to testify in favor of H. R. 6202, a bill which would provide for some 40,000,000 wage and salary earners a program similar to that carried on by the Agricultural Extension Service for the families of 6,000,000 farm operators. We look upon the establishment of a labor extension division within the Department of Labor as something more than a service to the wage earners of the United States. It would also be and this point cannot be emphasized too strongly—a service to the Nation as a whole. By making available to the workers of the United States specialized training in economics and the other social sciences, it would promote orderly collective bargaining and peaceful industrial relations. In the words of one of the sponsors of a similar bill for which H. R. 6202 has not been substituted, "it will likewise promote wider and wiser exercise of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the country." Too often in the past collective bargaining has degenerated into a formalized prelude to industrial conflict-a blind test of economic strength, rather than an honest seeking after an equitable solution to industrial problems. Too often, in the absence of a factual approach to the economics of collective bargaining, reason has given way to emotion and anger and eventually to economic warfare. It would be naive, of course, to suppose that merely by establishing a labor extension service under the auspices of the Federal Government we can hope to remove the element of conflict from American industrial life. But the establishment of a labor extension service would undoubtedly help. A Labor Extension Service would help to make available to the rank-and-file worker the basic information without which he cannot reasonably be expected to measure up to that high level of political and economic intelligence which is so essential to the successful functioning of democracy in a highly complex and highly industrialized society. The worker has a right to this service. He has a right to easy access to the authoritative material which is gathered by the various Government agencies, but which at present, in the absence of a widespread program of adult education, is made use of normally only by professional students of economics. He has a right to expect that his Government will do for him at least as much as it is doing (and has been doing these many years) for the farmers of the United States. Even more important, however, than the worker's right to such a service is the right of the community to the fullest possible training of all its people in the arts of successful social objectives. The common good requires, then, that all of our people be guaranteed easy access to all of the information and training which they need to be good citizens-good citizens in the field of political democracy and intelligent participants in that industrial democracy which has already begun to develop in the United States and which all patriotic Americans are anxious to see developed more perfectly as the counterpart or complement of political democracy. We are happy to note that the present bill, which would authorize the Federal Government to carry out its proper share of this responsibility to American workers and to the community, also recognizes that the several States must cooperate in the project and that the planning of specific programs, insofar as possible, ought to be left in the hands of duly authorized representatives of the men and women who are to benefit primarily or more immediately from the facilities which the Federal Government will help to make available. In every respect the bill evidences a wholesome desire on the part of its sponsors to promote the cause of labor education democratically. It builds upon a pattern of sound relationships between the Federal Government and the States on the one hand and between Government and private institutions on the other. We heartily endorse the bill and we express the hope that the Congress will see fit to enact it as soon as possible. Mr. McCowEN. The next witness is Mr. Connors. TESTIMONY OF JOHN D. CONNORS, DIRECTOR, WORKERS' You may give your name and address and state your connection, for the record. Mr. CONNORS. Good morning, Mr. McCowen, and members of the committee. My name is John D. Connors, director of the Workers' Education Bureau of America, located at 1440 Broadway, New York City. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am appearing in support of H. R. 6202, the labor extension bill, in my official capacity as director of the Workers' Education Bureau of America. The Workers' Education Bureau is the official educational agency for the American Federation of Labor and all of its affiliated unions. Our bureau has officially endorsed S. 1390. H. R. 6202 is the amended version of that bill and we are in favor of 6202. The American Federation of Labor at its sixty-sixth annual convention held in San Francisco last October also endorsed this bill. This convention action is reported on page 443 of the official proceedings of the American Federation of Labor convention, as follows: LABOR EXTENSION SERVICE RESOLUTION NO. 63: BY DELEGATES JOSEPH F. LANDIS, IRVIN R. KUENZLI, ARTHUR ELDER, SELMA M. BORCHARDT, JOHN M. FEWKES, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS Whereas the United States Congress enacted the Morrill Act on July 2, 1862, donating public lands to the several States and Territories to provide colleges for the benefit of those engaged in agriculture and the mechanic arts; and Whereas these land-grant colleges over the years have not promoted the welfare of those engaged in the mechanic arts nor has the Department of Labor provided research and technical assistance to workers comparable to such services provided by the Department of Commerce for employers; and Whereas a Labor Extension Service bill has now been introduced in both Houses of Congress (S. 1390 and H. R. 4078) to amend the Morrill Act making |