The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-13

for soIuton-the problem OF labor.
Right h|,e, however, is as good place
as any other for me to say that the
divisions of my subject for this evening
are purely arbitrary ones for the pur-
poses Of discussion. They afford con-
venient topics for comment. Such di-
visions. however. too often appear TO
indicate disposition to divide the peo-
pie OF this country into classes. TO this
I enter an emphatic dissent. The whole
discussion of the industrial interests Of
the country must be raised to higher
plane. 1t must be lifted out Of the
realm of class distinction. In the Ian
guage OF one of the greatest Of Ameri-
cans. whose public services and spotless
life you cherish and revere. as / DO,
We know no class distinctions in this
fair land Of ours"
Labor" a Misnomer.
The term labor is in sense a mis-
homer for we are all laborers II we are
what the President calls worth our
salt" When we set up two hostile
camps and call one capital and the other
labor we are false 10 all our traditions
and have ignored The principles upon
which the Republic was founded.
To go a step further. this is not a
question where the right is al on one
side. The man who would have you be
lieve so either deceives himself or would
deceive you. Nor is there a marked
preponderance Of right on the one side
or the other. but there is a vast deal Of
miseonception on both sides.
There Is TOO little community Of in
terest. too little by way Of Cancellation,
too intolerant spirit as between en-
plOyer and employee. believe in organ
lied capital as / believe In organ
lied labor. for, granting the right Of
one. you must grant the right Of the
other. But just as / firmly believe or
ganized capital IN any OF the various
walks Of life has no right to interfere
with those who may adopt some other
method Of doing business. so long as
they keep within the law and recognize
the obligations OF good citizenship, so
firmly believe that organized labor has
no right TO interfere with those outside
Of its ranks 50 long as they keep within
the law and in their turn recognize the
obiga tons OF good citizenship.
To Diffuse Knowledge.
The department is empowered TO ac-
qUire and diffuse among the people Of
the United States useful information
on subjects connected with labor, in the
most general and comprehensive sense
OF the word, especially regarding its
relation TO capital, such as the hours
OF labor and the earnings Of laboring
men and women; the means in general
OF promoting their material, social. in
telioctual. and moral condition.; the
dement's Of cost, or approximate cost.
OF products: the comparative cast Of
living, and the kind OF living; the ar
ticles controlled by trusts or other COM
binations OF capital. business opera
tiOns. or labor. and the effect such
trusts or other combinations have on
production and prices; the causes Of
and facts relating 10 all controversies
and disputes between employers and
employees.
Capitalists and wage receivers are to
be treated on an equality for in these
matters relating to labor and capital
the department must stand in the pO-
sitiOn Of educational office, collect
ing and publishing such information
as VIII enable each party TO understand
more fully the prevailing conditions.
The department has no executive
functions relating TO the settlement OF
Il Dor disputes. AZ can not interfere on
behalf of either employer or emplOye
IA controversies arising between them.
Dependent on Each Other.
Whatever enables either party to Sc
cure necessary information falls with
in the authority OF law. That authority
does not warrant the department IN
publishing any information drawn from
conditions in this or in other countries
which viii be helpful in bringing about
fuller knowledge and better under
standing Employer and employee are
dependent upon each other, and the
recognition OF the welfare Of both, and
OF the means Of assisting In securing
than welfare. Will be assiduously cul-
tivate6 All possible measures OF an
educational nature VIII De employed
20 induce the representatives Of labor
and capital 20 conduct their affairs on
a basis which shall not interfere wiSh
the general welfare OF those not en-
gagged IN the disputes This general
policy must commend itselr 20 the WIS
dom OF employer and emplOye alike, as
IL IS an the interests or both.
The Bureau Of Labor publishes many
valuable bulletins, and, IN addition to
the preparation al the time Of the eight
eenLh ann 81 report special bulletin
is issued regularly every other month
Each number OF the bulletin contains.
I ticles timely data relative 20 agree
mcnts between employers and en-
moves digests or recent reports Of
State bureaus OF labor statistics, d.
gests Of recent foreign statistical pub
NcaLOns court decisions Affecting Ia
Dor and laws Of various States re-
Iating 10 labor. There was recently
issued from the bureau a valuable bull
. Ictin upon labor unions and British in
dustry-.
Fosters Labor Interest.
The department will utilize to the
fullest extent the experience that has
been gained In the Bureau Of Labor and
will seek to make more and more avail
able the Information il can obtain and
TO secure larger results from its work.
Not only IS there at present bureau
doing work pertaining exclusively TO
labor. but It IS proposed 10 make every
other bureau in the department 60 its
share so far az its organization viii
permit. 10 foster promote. and devel-
oD the labor interest OF the United
States" The departments statistics on
labor as well a. It's statistics on other
subjects. VIII be gathered fairly given
out fairly and as tar as possible will be
made TO represent accurately conditions
found 10 exist And, in general, the
great interests Of labor and OF industry
10 their broadest sense viii be sub
served.
But this IeW department should not
be expected 20 do impossible things II
IL can be helpful To any considerable
extent in improving relations AS be
tween employer and employe: If its
publications can furnish facts from
which there may come fuller under
standing; If. having gained the conf