Omaha daily bee., 1918-12-06
Justice and Progress
Chicago Tribune.

In his opening address at the Illinois Fed
President John H. Walker, one OF the aolest
Grafton OF Labor convention at Bloomington
leaders of the labor movement in the country
said number of things which Americans gen.
orally would do we'll to ponder.
Respecting the concrete problems OF recon-
struction or transition back to peace conditions,
Mr. Walker repeated the warning, voiced some
days ago by Mr. Gompers. against any attempt
at radical and widespread wage reductions or
any attempt at frightening OF hours we think
the folly of such a course is too apparent to
employers as class to permit any mistake. In
some special cases where the wage rate has
been forced by the urgences OF war conditions
to an exorbitant standard, standard which an
industry cannot under peace conditions main.
tain, it will be readjusted under the pressure OF
economic force. But as for any general reduc--
ton, we think it generally realized that it would
be not only unjust but destructively impractical.
Nevertheless this presents problem which
both employers and employees should unite to
solve for their common benefit. Now that war
is over American industry must expect to meet
not only in the markets of the world but at
home-unless and until protective action is
taken by our governmental competition made
formidable by the lower wage scale and stand
ards of the European workman and work
woman.
Our own belief is that protective tariff will
have to be erected to protect American industry
and American standards of living, and we are
not hopeful that the peace negotiated at Paris
viii so radically readjust and equaiize the great
differences existing between our conditions and
those abroad that we can afford to forego our
own system of economic defense.
However that may be, the situation unques-
tionably calls for common counsel and mutual
support between labor and capital We think
the creation of committee by the Illinois fed
! cfrrc nrnh1an,S
wise and foresighted step, should be initiated
by employers, and the two committees should
get together and work out a program which
will foster our industry protect investment, and
place labor on higher and securer plane than
it has ever occupied before. The time. in our
opinion for this advance is ripe Wage Garner
and employer have just passed through great
trial They have made common sacrifices and
they were heavy ones. The gold star shines in
many home which the bolshevik scorns as cap
italistic 1t shines in the workers cottage, too.
There is tie that is not going to be forgotten.
1t has made more real the ties that bind us all
of common needs and hopes, OF a common
striving forward to better world for us all.
Men OF all classes and conditions of fortune
see today more clearly than before the truth Mr..
Walker put with simple force when he said:
1--WE must establish conditions requiring every
man and woman to deal justly in all economic
transactions with other men and women" That,
foundation of peace, the peace without which
none of US will prosper or progress.
We have been forced to join hands to achieve
victory against ruthless mitarism, to save our
common heritage, to protect our democratic flu
ture. Let us not unclasp them now.
This is not sentmentality. 1t is common
sense. The American democracy is real and it
is unconquerable. 1t can and will work out its
own problems in its own way under the guild
ance of its own genius without the invasion of
old world nostrums and panaceas In this con-
hdence men like Walker and Golnpers. loyal
Americans who have grasped the meaning of
American history and its certain promise for us
ALL sound their warning against the folly, de-
struction, and reaction of bolshevism.
The cure for all such ills, which menace the
worker fully as much as the millionaire, lies
along the lines which Mr.. Walker has pointed
out. ust dealing man to man is the key to
who wants to prosper at the expense of others,
who wants to drag others down instead of
building all up, is no American. He does we'll
to scorn the American flag, for it does not
symbolic his conceptions
The greatest step for common good would
be to bring labor and capital together in inte-
gent counsel for the common benefit. This, if
ever is the moment for it. We are about to
enter period more difficult and critical per-
haps, than that of war. Inevitably there will be
disagreements. misunderstanding, contests. Let
us not 60 into them with our eyes foolishly
shut Let us put our faith in American good
faith, good sense, and essential democracy, but
not take them for granted. Labor and capital.
through its responsible organizations. should
take measures of common counsel and coop
Grafton. Industry needs the wisdom of labor
leadership This is recognized in England and
put into practice, 1t is overdue in America.
LEADERS Of organized labor like Gompers and
Walker Duncan, Olander and Perkins are men
of thought and experience who ought to have
share in the broad policies of our industrial &C
tivity and the regulation of industrial relations.
They will have and the sooner the better.
American progress does not mean the mere
amusement of wealth 1t means the equitable
distribution of the results of our common ef-
forts 1t means the steady improvement of the
| conditions of Our lives. their sterilization on
plane Of opportunity for all, their enrichment
in experience and possibilities The railsplitter
rises to be president. the wage Garner to be
director of great enterprises. That is the proud
boast of our American creed, and it is for all of
us to see that it is made good in our day as in
the past. We can only preserve our brthright
of individual liberty by the just dealing of which
Mr.. Walker speaks, by common counsel and
loyal cooperation. There is injustice and de-
privaton in our country. 1t is our task to fight
them and wipe them out and we can do it by
standing together, seeking honestly that ideal
which this leader of organized labor and sound
American set before his followers at Bloom
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