The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1902-12-02
BETWEEN
LABOR AND CAPITAL


!.
How TO secure fair treatment alike
for labor and for capital how 10 mold
in check the unscrupulous man. whether
employer or employe. without weaken
ing individual initiative. without ham
pering and crampirg the Industrial de
yelopment Of the country. is a problem
fraught with great difficulties and one
which 10 is OF The highest Importance
10 solve on lines OF sanity and far
sighted common sense as well as OF
devotion 10 the right. This is an era
Of federation and combination. Exact
ly as business men find they must often
work through corporations. and as IL is
a constant tendency OF these corpora
lions TO grow larger. so 70 is often nee
oSsarv Tor labOriug men 10 work in fed
erations, and these have become import
ant factors Of modern Industrial life
Both kinds o. federation. capitalistIc
and labor, can do much good. and as a
necessary corollary they can both do
evil Opposition 10 each kind Of or
ganization should take the form Of op-
position 10 whatever Is bad I'm the con
duct OF any given corporation or union
not Of attacks upon corporations as such
nor upon unions as such. for some OF
the most far-rcaching beue6cent work
for our people has been accomplished
through both corporations and unions
Each must refrain from arbitrary or
tyrannous Interference with the rights
OF others.
Duties Of Capital and Labor
Organized capital and organized labor
alike should remember that i'm the long
run the interest OF each must be brought
into harmony with the interest OF the
general public; and the conduct OF each
mus. conform 10 the fundamental rules
OF obedience 10 the law. OF individual
freedom. and Of justice and fair dealing
toward all Each should remember that
In addition TO power 90 must strive after
the realization OF healthy. lofty. and
generous ideals Every employer. every
wage-wOrker. must be guaranteed his
liberty and his right TO do as he likes
with his property OF his labor so long as
he does not infringe upon the rights OF
others. 10 is Of the highest Importance
that employer and employe alike. should
endeayor 10 Appreciate each tle view
pOinc OF the Other and the sure disaster
that will come upon both Ia the long
run IN either grows 10 take as habitual
an attitude of sour hostility and dis
trust toward the other Few people de-
serve better OF the country than those
representative both ~ capital aud
labor-and there are many such-who
work continually 10 bring about a good
understanding Of this kind based upon
wisdom and upon broad and kindly sym
paJhy between employers and employed.
Danger Of Class Animosity.
Above all, we need 70 remember that
any kind OF class animOsity In the politi-
cal world is. II possible. even more
wicked. even more destructive 10 ma
tiOnal welfare than sectional. race or
religious animosity. We can get good
government only. upon condition that we
keep true to the principles upon which
this Nation was founded and judge each
man not as part OF a class. but upon
his individual merits. All that we have
a right TO ask OF any man, rich or poor,
whatever his creed. his occupation. his
birthplace. or his residence is that he
shall act wen and hOnOrably Dr. his
neighbor and by his country. We are
neither for the rich man as such nor
for the poor man as such. we are for the
upright man. rich or poor. SO far as the
constitutional powers OF the National
Government touch these matters OF gen
eral and vital moment 10 the Nation.
hey should be exercised In conformity
with the principles above set forth
A Secretary of Commerce
10 is earnestly hoped that secretary
Of commerce may be created. with a scat
IN the Cabinet. The rapid multiplication
~ questions affecting labor and capital
he growth and completely OF the or
ganizatlons through which both labor
aud capital now find eXpressi-1. tie
steady tendency toward the employment
OF capital In huge corpora lions. al ia"
wonderful strides OF this country igward
leadership in the international business
world justify an urgen- demand for the
creation OF such a position. Substau
italy all the leading commercial bodies
in this country have united in request
ing its creation. II Is desirable That
some such measure as that which has
already nassed the senate be enacted
into law. The creation OF such a de-
partment would I'm itsel: be an advance
toward dealing with aud eyere.s'ug su-
pervisiOn over the whole subject OF The
great corporations doing an interstate
business, and with this end in view,
the Congress should e1d1E -hc depart
ment with large covers. which could
be increased as experience might snow
the need
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