Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-07
NOU HAVE A DUTY
| TOWARD WILSON
|niverting to Stop and Consider
What the People Owe Presi-
dent, Says Forbes.
sv 3. c. FORBES.

By 3. &. FOR6ES.
What is YOUR duty toward Presi-
dent Wilson?
X. will hear so much of President
r-f,son's duty toward the people that
!. may be diverting and not wholly
,selase to consider the duty of the
neople toward him.
r,rasident Wilson's inaugural ad-
dress fulnlls the forecast that it would
y, modern Sermon on the Mount
III. ideals are so high, his enthusiasm
Genuine and his force of character
fn,neIlfng that he has excited higher
Il s,na. that he can possibly fulfill 1t
Las been wittily said that certain
1riters do not allow themselves to be
# .omnored by facts; President Wilson,
T., evnressing confidence that the coun-
.., ran be virtually remade morally,
y atonomicalIy, financially, industrially,
q #byoienically and agriculturaly has not
hssn hampered by mature knowledge
" aoined in the hard school of expert
& na in the mart and factory, the
oannting house and the exchange. His
ontimism. his sublime faith in the
D6wer of his own personality and the
rotencv OF government, are in one
5ensa admirable; but they have sown
eeeds Of expectation that can not be
frurtified into realization in four-or
even eight-short years.
What can be done on paper can not
always be done in practice.
The people, therefore, must be pre-
n ngred to cultivate great forbearance
great toleration, great moderation, not
onIy in their attitude toward President
Wilson. but toward one another. I'm
n mtience, intolerance, high h-handedness,
Il iot-headedness may wreck the ship of
y state,
The relations between capital and
ri labor are to come up for readjustment.
In recent years the struggle has been
II mainly between corporations and con-
81 sumers.
Il Capital has been ill-advised in OPP
81 posing the creation of full-fledged
n department. of labor, with cabinet
n officer at its head. Labor is abun-
DAINTY justified in demanding direct
III representa- tlpJI III LllC NtiDttlCl. llS III
ri ug.tancc more than warrants such pro-
n vision for its recognition. Only short
II sigltedness could have caused capital
20 object department OF labor
81 should aid not retard, the process of
q adjustment that is inevitable and
q imminent. Labor is entitled to insist
u p9u its fuit rights. Coincidentally, it
II must be prepared to accept its full
Il r. sponsibilities.
Would {, secretary of labor. a man
q Of sober Judgment, of judicial tempera-
eag not a blind partisan, come for
ward ANA tell his colleagues in the
cabinet. ard the cubic. that he OBJ
.natrj to labor being treated on eX-
lety the same basis as capital under
q Jhe Sherman law? Would any man of
national reputation, any aspirant for
the high donors Of craftsmanship. de-
uJuncr a legislative measure simply
n because ii treated all classes alike be-
cause ii refused to call certain action
crime when perpetrated by one class
bat did cell the same action q crime
when committed by another class? BY
granting l. Dor direct representation in
b. cabinet, labor's sense of response
II llHty would be increased.
Certain sets Of capitalists must
also 90 little fresh thinking if they
-epe 20 avert swift reprisals.
\ The Anthracite Coal Trust is an in
sorious specimen of capitalistic
Il .4uas that deserve to be brought up
"ith short rein. The latest exhibition
Vi etfrontelY of flaunting their AFRO
taaee IN tie face of an impotent public,
Justly aroused Indignation. Because
wages we've Slightly increased, the
Il luolic must needs he saddled not only
N'la this additional burden, but with
d TAR heavier one. Instead of accept
ing their share of the increase in the
cost If do.rg business-as they could
wei aftogd to do-the coal barons
selzeC thc incident as a pretext for
mucting TIE public of millions of un-
warranted dollars.
Patience is extremely necessary for
smooth, orderly government. But pa
qence does not-should not-mean in
inference to wrongs, 1t must not
Il degenerate into serf-like acquiescence
wien Hagrant abuses are persisted in
Many-l believe a majority-of our
1nahclers are ready to cooperate with
lesident Wilson in evolving equitable
tnahelal and industrial conditions
bhilohg our leading men of affairs
ulert Is today scant sympathy with
.uei enid labor, with virtual slavery
@nioiiS Workmen or the starving o1
mGrklng women. The Steel Trust has
"sHered in many reforms, and its eX
SViLpie has been of infinite value
numerous corporations are introduc-