El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-26

II HOSE there were-including
former president Taft-who poo
pooled the idea of having a de-
partment at Washington devoted to the
intrests of labor, says the Inland
Printer. We surely have no quarrel
with our dubious friends. for we our
selves regarded the establishment of
the department as pol1tlanS stop
to a growing sentiment
President Wilson selected man for
the head of the new department who
has ideas about its mission, and who
is content to be a foundation builder
When one comes to think of It, Secre-
tary William B. Wilson is the sort of
d man who is likely to possess vision.
Mine worker, labor union official in
times and territories when and where
the reward was poverty and jail, poet,
congressman and small farmer, his
history shows a variety and diversity
of occupations that must give him a
broad view of life. Therefore, We
should not be surprised when We read
this clear statement bearing on the
vital issue Of the age;
Capital and labor are partners.
Capital without labor is ineffective.
Labor without capital is idle. Capital
is an inanimate thing 1t represents
the accumulation of the uncOnsumed
product of previous labor. On the
other hand, capital is the means by
which labor can live until the products
OF us eIIOTIS can De EeallZeO on cap
ital, the inanimate thing, can produce
nothing except by providing OppOr-
tunity for labor. Therefore, capital and
labor each must serve the other, then
other.
This leads naturally to an import
ant statement the force of which is
sometimes overlooked As capital and
labor each must serve theOther, then
each must have voice in determining
the terms of partnership 1t is here
that We have had trouble in the past.
In our disputes we have confused the
meaning of the words mutual and
Identical The interests of capital
and labor are mutual in seeking the !
greatest production by the expenditure |
of given amount of effort. 1t is only !
when it comes to a division of what Z
has been produced that their interests :
diverge.
Here is where the opportunity ex- /
lists in this country for these two mu- /
tual interests to sit down in the council J
chamber of judgment and work out a 1
division that has regard for the proper 4
rights of each I look forward with !
great assurance to the future of this I
department. 1t must tend toward in /
dustrial peace. Mutual understanding 1
depends upon mutual explanations. /
The duty OF this department will not /.
lie in the direction of deciding diff /
cult questions, but rather in the di- /
rection of bringing together those !
whose interests are mutual and who |
will therefore gain by being brought !
together. We are not to decide; we
are to bring together. The depart-
ment is not built for today 1t is built I
for all time and therefore must plan,
not merely for the immediate gain,
but also for the permanent welfare Of
the workers
Secretary Wilson evidently believes
that the remedy for Industrial ills has
not yet been discovered. and he pro-
poses that the United States govern
ment shall take hand in endeavor-
no IN q A faE CT
arn papers feigned to believe that the
new department would be made a ma
thine to garner legislative and other
i'd bits for labor. Mr.. Wilson in his
does not seem to be
very grasping. for he thinks 1abor's
great present need is an education more
suited to its requirements He says:
One Of the greatest services that
an be rendered by the nation to labor
If the muscular kind is in the direction
IF efficiency, and that is why during
ny congressional life 1 gave whatever
support / could to the subject Of VO-
satiOnal education. I am glad to see
hat the Page bill has been reintro-
iuced and to know that the friends
If vocational education are striving
% bring into II some changes that may
produce promDter action on the part of
congress. But whatever congress in
IS wisdom may do, the fact remains
hat the greatest strength to come to
)ur nation is in the direction of ef-
icient life on the part of the majority.
Dur high schools are producing stu
Tents for colleges and for professional
ife. They are only small proper
son of the student force of America
Those who do not reach high school are
he vast majority. It is of that vast
majority that society unjust think in
rider that the lives Of the many may
,ecome efficient. I strongly favor fed
raj funds being placed at the disposal
II those states that will contribute
imilar funds to produce an educa-
ional change which IS essential, now
hat our nation has taken on a dis
inctly manufacturing type of develop | !
nent"
Though a radical, the secretary OF
abOr seems to be enrolled among the
afe and sane.
SLATER MILL STRIKERS
ACCEPT OWNERS TERMS
The S00 ODeratiVeS of the wooden de-