The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-09-01

does this emphasis upon creative pow.
er appear Observation-Disclosures at.
tention Is focused upon the products
created rather than upon that great
er. more beautiful thing, the wonder.
full, mysterious, spiritual force That
gives direction and purpose To physi.
cal forces In production.
The problems OF those who handle
the tools and who do the actual work
OF production have been to secure rec.
ognition OF the value OF their creative
services and TO maintain the right of
free men To control their bodies and
their individual powers while all the
time endeavoring 10 obtain greater OPP
portunities and facilities for personal
development and activity. These prob
lens are problems OF economic rela.
tions between themselves and those
who produce and those who happen 10
enjoy strategic advantages In the de-
ternining distribution OF the returns
from production. Only powerful In.
dustrial force can maintain Industrial
Justice and secure for those who pro-
duce adequate return for their serv,
Ices.
As individuals the workers cannot
exercise sufficient influence to main
tain their rights or Industrial Justice,
but united they have power In proper
ton To their Joint intelligence. needs
and aspirations.
The problems TO be solved and the
forces that will be effective are eco
nomic--hence the wisdom Of the policy
that the American Federation OF La
Dor has steadfastly pursued. There
have been mnny other advisers, some
sincere, others nctuated by ulterior
purposes, who have counseled the
wage earners 10 put their faith In the
ballot and 10 "go TO congress"
Politics a Secondary Force.
But politics IL concerned with pro-
vidlng opportunities, maintaining the
right to activities. establishing ways
and means by which things can be
done-politics does not enter directly
and intimately into industrial rela-
tlons. Politics Is a secondary force In
industrial affairs.
Every day is demonstrating that the
center OF power has shifted from poll
tics and government 10 industry and
commerce. Political power Is only re-
fected power-renected from the eco
nomic.
This transition makes organization
OF Industrial relations for the estnb-
lishment OF ideals Of Justice OF trans
cendent Importance. IL makes the
meeting and the deliberations OF repre-
sentatIves Of millions Of wage earners
OF potential Significance to the nation
and the whole world.
OF 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 10 voice
the new demand for labor's complete
dsenthrailment from every form and
fact OF unfreedom and inequality be-
fore the law.
Great Humanitarian Laws.
Much benehcent, remedial legisln-
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 orgnnl.
zatloI. alone.
Among the great Humanitarian laws
are two that stand out conspicuously:
The seamnn's act, enacted by congress
and signed by President Wilson,
March 4, 1915, which made sailors free
men. giving them the right 10 stop
work at will when their vessels are In
safe harbors. and the labor provisions
Of the Clayton antitrust act, section o
OF which contains a legislative declnra.
ton OF more far-reachIng significance
than has been enacted by any other
authorized body-that the labor power
OF a human being is not a 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-
tunlty for freedom and progress n
means the beginning Of a new period
the dawning Of q new and better day.