Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-05
The National Civic Federation.

The National Civic Federation. which
meets here In annual session today, was
organized twelve years ago Tor the pur-
pose Of providing an agency for the ad-
justment Of relations between employers
and employed. 1t has from the outset
enlisted the services OF some OF the most
capable Of American citizens. leaders in
various lines Of activity and earnest In
their endeavor to work out better sys-
TEN Of Industrial relationship. They had
no thought at the outset that they were
about to solve all problems or TO iap-
proach the millennial state of industrial
peace for which all the wellwishers OF
labor and capital are sincerely hopeful.
1t might be thought, from a survey OF
affairs today. with strikes in progress IN
various places and with others In con-
temptation, that matters were no better
than they were before the federation was
organized, and yet this Is impossible.
Good must surely have come from the
frank, fair discussion of Industrial ques-
tons which the federation has permitted.
II is not possible for men to meet as in
timately as have the representatives Of
capital and labor upon this forum year
after year without reaching closer
understanding and gaining a more sub
stantial mutual respect In point Of
fact 1t is known that the federation has
been instrumental in numerous cases in
bringing about adjustments and prevent
ing strikes. Every such success has been
q, distinct gain toward Industrial peace.
1t Is a favorite shibboleth Of some that
a great labor war Is coming. There is no
logical reason for such a pessimistic
prediction. On the contrary, the prospect
10 better today than 1t has been for years,
for the reason that men have reached a
more intelligent plane Of understanding
regarding the social responsibility of the
employer and the employed. There are
demagogues on the one side who preach
the doctrine of warfare and there are
equally dangerous reactionaries on the
ether who cannot appreciate that those
who work with their hands have rights
not merely to the wages they earn, but
to consideration as human beings and as
members Of society. But between these
two extremes are the men who represent
the majority sentiments. employers who
look upon their workers humanely and
with interest and who, are concerned in
their physical and moral welfare: work.
ingmen and leaders who understand the
economic truth which underlies all in
Odstrial activity that only through Or
ganization and the self-interest engen-
dered by the investment of capital can
business be conducted successfully and
progressively.
The National Civic Federation meets
/, mere OPPORTUNITY. A stubborn strike is
in progress at Lawrence Mass, which
has been accompanied by some extraordi-
narily foolish performances by both
strikers and employers, and serves as an
Illuminating example of how a strike
should not be managed or fought. There
Is also impending possible strike in the
anthracite coal industry. These two sit
uations may serve as object lessons in the
discussions in the three-day session. 1t is
TO be hoped that lessons 81 permanent
value can be drawn from them and that
: labor and capital may be brought a little
closer together as a result OF this ex
change Of views