The Washington herald., 1907-12-16
WOULD REMEDY LOCAL EVILS
Mr.. Sehenck Believes Washington
Should Set Example.
Advocates Creation of Board of Con-
troll for Adjudication of the
City's Many Wrongs.

Mr. J. H. Schenck has addressed the
following letter to Commissioner Mac
farland:
Hon H. D. f. Mselarland:
My Dear Sir: AS one whose familiarity
with this goOdly city dates back 10 Presi-
dent Lincoln's time, and has seen il rise
10 its present proud position. / know
OF no One-barring none-who has shown
so deep concern for the welfare OF the
people as the one who so Well adorns
the head Of our local and admirable gov
ernmsnt. or who is SO well capable OF
passing on the merits Of these modest
suggestions. or, II found worthy, 10 give
Il boost.
Mr.. Schenck follows his letter. compli-
mentary to Commissioner Maefariand,
with the following communication 10
The Washington Herald:
Washington is becoming the city set
on a hiIT' for the uplooking and uplifting
OF a continent The time is ripe for her
taking her logical position as adjudicator
in social. interstate. and industrial prob
lens that vex and retard the happiness
OF eighty million people
The saloon curse and the labor problem
are at present the most ruinously expen-
sive that confront a nation whose already
phenomenal prosperity would be enor-
mously augmented by the solution Of
either one: this is a proposition readily
deTnonstrabie. and that an intelligent mind
will scarcely question Both must be.
and will be, solved. and every day Of
delay Is but steadily and surely piling up
the loss. We now take up the labor
problem.
The writer, during a long business ca
reer, has seen the workings Of both par
ties 10 this embittered antagonism that
continues to grow no better very fast
II has become a thoroughly settled tri-
angular contest First, capital or en-
ployers; secondly, labor or the employed /;
third. the public The first two are con-
scientiously committing harikari right
along. each emulating the depth OF the
knife thrust The third are helpless vic
Tins. with nothing to gain and every
thing to lose-losing it surely as they are
crushed between the upper and the
neither millstOnes. OF these three classes
the greatest sufferers are not the capital
ist OF employer, who may lose thousands.
but has enough left TO keep his family
in comfort; not the public, whose loss is
divided up in individual portions that are
not IN each instance wholly ruinous; not
even the individual workman who thrown
out on strike can always get laboring
work to supply his daily wants. but the
deadliest blow falls most heavily on the
absolutely helpless. innocent. noncom-
batants, the wives and children, This is
the saddest feature of the whole wretched
business. and in their behalf only is this
appeal put forth.
This preamble leads up TO a proposal
differing from any have seen.
Before this year closes. have appointed
by our best publicists, named by all con-
tending parties, an industrial board of
control few In number. who shall give,
If need be, their entire time for the year
1908. They shall in fact adjudicate upon
all questions that may arise not only. but
formulate rules governing all relations
between employers and the employed To
this end, for the one year term, all pres
ent stipulations. either among the mem
bers of any existing organizations, or
between one and another, shall give way,
that an opportunity be given for an ex-
pertinent that, with such notifications as
experience may suggest. may form an
ensemble and the relief radiate from this
fountain head in healthful streams
throughout the land.
AS a further precaution TO safeguard ali
interests. I would have a board of appeal
Of prominent and high-minded men. to
whom, under proper restrictions, any in
dividual party may state their grievances
and get a decision.
Under such an arrangement, men may
be sure of steady work and employers be
secure against interruption in fulfilling
their contracts and the wives be fed and
the children clothed and schooled for at
least one year from the approaching New
Tears Day. These two boards properly
constituted, will command the confidence
and respect OF the entire community
have their moral support. and in any pos
sible event, be far more profitable for all
parties than this irritating and costly
contest.
II. through sheer obstinacy or a desire
to win OUT by crushing the other con-
testant. such an one should reject such
an experiment sustained and commended
by dssinterested citizens on philanthropIc
grounds. such recaIcitrants would forfeit
any claim to consideration
I have always claimed that with the
boundless resources of this country. the
community owes il to every wage-earner
to supply profitable and constant employ
ment TO the worthy and industrious to It's
full value. Beyond this I am disinter-
ested J. II. SCHENCK.