The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-07


antagonistic legislation enacted SER
Vleiy AT the Dehests of unreasoning
| sentimentalists and petty demagogues.
Neither Will tho just rights of labor
That great body of our citizenship em-
braced under tho designation OF ia
boring men" forms an essential factor
OF our social organism. and 1 CONFESS
/ my inability to conceive how those OF
any other class could really desire
/ harm to overtake them, either from
tho standpoint of manly principle or
from policy.
! But what is the situation? Imprcca-
tons loud and long on predatory
: wealth, plutocracy, trusts. corporations
! everywhere abound. Diro forebodings
are voiced over the concentration OF
wealth--"thc rich becoming richer and
( the poor getting poorer!" Pcssimistic
/ editorials, cNtruvagnnt cartoons, con-
ucmnatory party platforms, are among
the manifold agencies serving to keep
! the public In turmoil. The strong arm
I OF the government Is raised against
! unreasonable restraint Of trade" Rail-
| roads and other corporations that have
been of incsUmable service in devel-
oping this wonderful country are
4 pounced upon as enemies of the PEG.
pies liberties. Tho labor unions and
/ brotherhoods are becoming moro and
more powerful and cxncting. The
tyranny of capitaP may now DO
threatened BY the tyranny of labor!"
/. Now, II is not herein denied that there
ure Just grounds of complaint against
the several situations sought to be rem
I edied, but there is too much exaggcra-
I uon, too little discrimination in the
Z promises, which has largely defea ted
/ mat proper poise so essential in recti-
/ lying evils and conserving the true
/ commonweal and this has given an inn
petus to that most mischievous and
] pernicious doctrine now becoming the
paramount popular issue-the panacea
or all s-'Eovornmental paternalism.''
The Interests" arc not all children OF
! the tariffi
But while the Captains of the
guards" of the contcnding factions and
liags are active and alert, while tho
| self-seesing demagogues are tanning
the fires OF discord and selhshness
holds much sway everywhere: while
inc honest statesmen and publicists
are burning the midnight lamp in
faithful endcavor to solve the great
! problems that are perplexing the pco-
| pie. the situation will be saved by that
great residuum of preservative force
sanity and conservatism of the great
thinking masses. This potent force OF
poise In the varied relations OF life
VIII not permit Il permanent arrayal OF
a capital and labor caste to the det-
riment of both sides and the under
mining or our social structure They
VIII insist, too. upon the establishment
ana maintenance OF just medium OF
working relationship between labor
and cepital--betwccn employer and
employe. Unionism. whose whole soul
Nouiu pe lOECe anu corporate COTnDlnu
lions. with no yielding TO the demands
OF equity and justice. are to be equally
discouraged. The corporations and
Drotherhoods Will learn to give earnest
need 10 the great Importance of plac-
ing and sustaining men In official post
1 tons who arc possessed OF souls as
well as minds-men as we'll as figure
heads and the fire-eaters Will find no
room In the unions or such unions
Will perish. Representatives. OF en-
ploying agencies and those OF the la
Dor unions VIII be selected for wage
conferences on the basis OF honest ca
pacity and integrity--not sharp men"
chosen to compete in n gamble for the
best cphemeral trade. They Will pe
expected to look at the question from
he viewpoint OF the other side no less
than their own side. and to act square
~ and Justly. Out for tho imputation
OF being invidious might name a
relations ever existing between itself
and its army of cmploycs.)
Nor should 1t ever be imagined TINT
The question of the wage scale is the
manent adjustment of this great in
dividual question. Cash payment
never was or could, except for q few
years, be the union bond OF man to
man." long ago declared Thomas Car
lyle. The highest type OF efficient SER
vice must have it's root in loyalty to
tho employing agency. There must
be some stimulus in addition to the
prospective pay envelope There must,
In the nature of things. be IL feeling
OF mutual interest permeating the
ranks OF employer and employe. This
Ideal condition can never be realized
by tyrannical mien and cold blood
ed attitude on the part OF either Side
Lasting and permanent tranquility can
never exist when there Is an undercur-
rent of feeling that just the fair and
right thing Is not being dono or de-
sired.
Yes. the wcll-boised men of tho
masses must be on guard. Radicalism
must give place to conservatism. Rca-
son must supplant Ignorance and pref
uuicc: The great and unfettered truth
which maketh free" must be dissem-
mated. have an abiding faith in the
honesty of purpose Of the masses. They
may be deceived and for time fol-
low the seductive cries of the dema-
Go8ue, but proper information will set
! them right. One day in Parliament
William Pitt said, II have no fear for
of judgment" But Edmund Burke re-
Piled, What ! fear Is the day of no
Judgment! This Is tho insidious in
hrmity of great democracies.
No, do not think the millennium Is
quite at hand or that the Golden Rule
will be universally practiced. nor vet
| that this little homily OF mine Will
materially help the situation. But the
duties and responsibilities as an in
teger in the great social whole and
that the combined efforts OF those who
are conservative and sane will accom-
ism and the malevolentii influence of de-
signing selfshness, thoughtlessness
and missuidance. The intelligent, CON
servativc citizenry will perpetuate this
rare republic. w. NJ. B1CKERS.
Richmond
Does Not Go Far Enough.
To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch: