Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-11
Present Cooperation or Future serfdom

Present Cooperation or Future Serfdom
= INSTANTLY recurring demands of labor
~ for higher wages and shorter hours is
one Of the most serious problems with which
this country has found it necessary to
struggle in its conduct of the war with Ger
many. The situation seems to be rapidly
approaching a crisis, when the loyalty of labor
must assert itself in a postponement Of It's
various claims until victory has been achieved,
or the government must lay its strong, re-
straining hand upon any movement by either
labor or capital which threatens its complete
success In the allied cause With the rail-
way brotherhoods threa tening to tie up these
first lines Of the countrys defense to en-
force their demands for increased wages with
clerks walking out In the confessed endeavor
to prevent freight shipments. with shipyard
workers quitting their posts in face of the
dire need for vessels to take the place of those
sent to the bottom by the Kaiser's submarines.
and with the coal mining districts and other
industries i'll turmoil which is Gripping
their efficiency conditions are becoming SO
acute that settlement soon must be eff
fected If the country is to be unhampered in
its national efforts.
Consumption OF labor is phrase which
rings harshly American ears. and it is
devoutly hoped that 1t never will be neces-
sary. II never will be if employers and en-
ployees will come together in a spirit Of
friendship and love of country and agree TO
postpone their differences until peace has
come again. After all. what will it proit
either TO secure material advantage over
the other should Germany win this war?
Their lack Of cooperation now is tell
ing contribution TO the success Of Teutonic
arms. Let victory come to the colors OF
Berlin and values in America will be largely
wiped ont Railroad and other standard
securities in which people to-day count their
wealth will be little more than so much waste
paper. The spectacle OF Belgium in ruins
may be taken as a forerunuer Of what would
happen here-and in that way, by fire and
by cword. our labor problem would be solved
by Berlin Better loyal compromises and CO.
operation with this government to-day while
there is still time. than scrfdom under Ger
man ovcrlords in the time to come.
The United States should take lesson
from the experience Of Great Britain. which
in the first months Of the Wa. passed through
difficuitfes similar to thoss which are con-
fronting us to-day, and seems to have
solved them in manner satisfactory to capt.
tai and labor and 10 the Advancement of the
countrys cause. No CONSUMPTION of labor
was attempted. but al agreement was effected
between the employers associations and the
trade-unions. Under its terms the unions
agreed to the abandonment Of all restrictive
operations during the period of the war. thus
maSing 1t possible 10 use an: kind OF labor
wherever needed. Women and unskilled
la Dor were made available for facilitation OF
government work. Strikes were made illegal
and wages for men and profits for employers
were definitely fixed. The increasing cost
oil living is carefully studied. and adequate
compensation for the workers is given. Tn
der the workings of this system the labor
problem. which seemed TO threaten Great
Britain s Very existence apparently has been
happily solved. This 'ountry now awaits
solution OF its similar problem before il can
20 iuii speed ahead TO future peace and
prosperity.