The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-08-31

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time endeuvOring 10 obtain greater Op
pOriuntes and facilities for personal
development and nctlvlty. These prob
lens are problems Of economic rela
lions between themselves and those
who produce and those who happen t.
enjoy strategic advantages in the dc
termining distribution of the returns
from production. Only a powerful in
dustrinl force can maintain lndustriai
Justice aud secure for those who pro
luce adequate return for their serv
ices.
AS individuals the workers cannon
exercise sufficient influence to main
tain their rights or Industrial justice
hut united they have power In proper.
ton TO their joint intelligence, needf
and aspirations.
The problems TO be solved and tht
forces that will be effective are eco
n0mic--hence the wisdom of the policy
that the American Federation Of LII
bor has steudfastly pursued. TheI'
have been many other advisers somt
sincere, others actuated by ullcriOT
purposes. who have cOunseled the
wage earnerS to put their faith In the
ballot and TO "go TO congress-
Politics a Secondary Force.
But politics is concerned with pro
vidng opportunities, maintaining the
right TO activities, establishing ways
and means by which things can be
done-poitics does not enter directly
and Intimately into Industrial rrla.
lions. Politics Is a secondary force In
industrial affairs.
Every day is demonstrating that the
center of power has shifted from poll.
ties and government to industry and
commerce. Political power is only re-
nected power-rehected from the eco
nOmic.
This transition makes organization
of Industrial relations for the estab-
llShment Of ideals OF justice Of trans
cendent Importance. Ii makes the
meeting and the deliberations of repre-
sentatives Of millions Of wage earners
of potential significance to the nation
and the whole world.
or course labor has gone to congress
for the purpose Of securing the largest
degree OF freedom to exercise the nee
eSsary normal activities of the work.
ers for economic betterment, for the
constructive work which the govern
ment alone can enact; and TO voice
the new demand for labor's complete
disenthrallment from every form and
fact of unfreedom and inequality be.
fore the law.
Great Humanitarian Laws.
Much beneiicent, remedial lcgiSla-
ton has already been secured from
congress, conserving the lives and
health of workers and protecting their
rights--doing for them that which can.
not be done through economic orguni.
zati0n alone.
Among the great humanitarian laws
are two that stand out conspicuouSly:
The seaman's net, enacted by congress
and signed by President Wilson
March 4, 1918, which made sailors free
men. giving them the right TO stop
work at will when their vessels are In
safe hnrhors, and the labor provisions
of the Clayton antitrust act, section 9
of which contains legislative declnra-
ton OF more far.reaching Significance
than has been enacted by any other
authorized body-that the labor power
Of human being is not commodity
or article of commerce.
This new charter of freedom for
workers was passed by congress and
signed by President Wilson, October
II, 1914. II brings relief from old
methods of legal oppression and oppor-
tunity for freedom and progress. II
means the beginning of new period
the dawning of new and better dny.