West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-09-28
was reasonable and was based upon
right

was reasonable and was based upon
right.
But, ladies and gentlemen. that Is
not the end OF the story. This thing
ought to have been done, and Il had to
be done at the time IL was done. so as
to bring about reasonable trial of the
eight-hour day and a careful examina-
tion of the results of the eight-hour
day. But that does not finish the mat
ter Let me call your attention to
what believe we ought to be thinking
about so as to set the stage for this
and all similar cases.
There are some things I'm which So
ciety is so profoundly interested that
its interests take precedence of the
interests of any group of men
whatever. One OF these things is the
supply of the absolute necessaries OF
life.
1t would be intolerable II at any
time any group of men by any process
should be suffered to cut society off
from the necessary supplies which sus-
tain life. But these supplies are of
no use unless they can be distributed.
and in the matter OF the distribution
OF goods, particularly OF the goods
that sustain life and industry, the in
terest OF society is paramount to ey-
cry other interest; and the difficulty
about all situations like that which
we have just passed through IL this,
that the main partner is left out OF the
reckoning
These men were dealing with one
another as If the only thing to settle
was between themselves. whereas. the
real thing to settle was what rights
had the hundred million people OF the
United States.
"The business Of government is TO
see that no other organization Is as
strong as Itself TO see that no body
or group OF men, no matter what their
private interest is, may come into com
petition with the authority OF society.
cause Of the lateness OF the session.
has for a few months postponed, is
this problem: BY what means are we
going to oblige persons who come TO
a controversy like this to admit the
public into the partnership by which
the thing is discussed and decided2
THAT is not an easy problem. A
great many different methods have
been proposed; and one Of the reasons
why Congress thought II necessary 10
postpone the decision for a few
months was that there we're so many
honest differences OF opinion, not as
to the object. but as TO the method.
~ want to suggest to you a means
OF testing your fellow men as to
whether they know what they are talk
ing about or not. II is not necessary
for man TO come and argue with me
an obvious moral principle. but I au
very much interested when he comes
and argues W.. me how he is going
TO make Il work And when men say,
We must not permit any organization
to neglect the interests Of society I
say. Amen; but what want TO SIT
down and discuss with you is, how are
we going to prevent ~?
"The only thing worth talking about
I'm politics or any other sphere Is the
constructive idea: How arc you go
ing TO dQ it?' We all know, or AZ any
rate we pretend TO know. what we
ought TO do. but we do not all know
how to do Il. and the very difficult
question which the American people Is
now face to face with and which they
are going to settle. Is this How are
we going 20 organize our participation
as a partner In the settlement OF dis
putes between capital and labor
which interrupt the life Of the nstiong p
I invite at subscribers to suggest a
method.
"The question is apt to be obscured
In some quarters. as II we were say
ing that Il was the right Of the govern
ment or OF organized society. which IA
another term for the same thing. to
say to a man: You must work wheth-
er you want TO or not America Is
never going 70 say to any individual.
You must work whether yeu want "a
or not but II is privileged to say "a
an organization Of persons: You must