The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-27
Uniting For War Work

The conference between repreSen-
tatives of labor and capital now sit
ting at Washington is designed for
the adoption of a policy for preven-
ton of future disputes, and has moth
ing to do with any past dispute. It's
concern is with principles, not with
facts, for it is rather legislature
than a court. Its procedure, there
fore, is more important than any one
strike, for it is to provide standard
by which the merits of both strikes
and lockoutS are to be tested. A
conference of this sort is obnoxious
if it degenerates into a combination
OF capital and labor against any fac
ton of either, or against the interest
of the general public, which they
both serve. The conference will be
something worse than futile if it re-
suits in tn econtrol of production for
the sake of raising prices and profits,
or in the limitation of jobs to any
class of labor for the sake of an I'M
economic increase in wages.
There is work for every worker,
because there is need of the greatest
production of all. When there are
no idle or underpaid dollars or men,
their aggregate earnings are the
maximum possible, and the produc-
ton should exceed every precedent,
even though scores of millions of
, men have been withdrawn from pro-
ductive labor, and although billions
of money are asked for use in pro-
cesses of destruction. The fate Of
! the world may be seen in what is
happening in Russia if the Bolshe-
wiki of either capital or labor are
allowed to have their way without
restraint. The conference at Wash
ington can prevent such horror for
the United States by reaching deci-
sions so wise and moderate that they
shall command voluntary acceptance,
or may be adopted by Government
for compulsory practice upon whoev-
er may seek to avoid or annul them
The prospect for such a result de-
ponds upon the acceptance of lead
ership by both capital and labor. La
boris reproach against capital has
been that capital has known how to
mold laws to its interests and how
to obey laws in an evaSiVe manner.
The enforcement of the laws upon
the strongest and skillfulest of the
! capitalist trusts has reduced that re-
proach nearly to disappearance. Cap
, ital is beginning to make the same
reproach against labor, and long has
complained that labor has broken
laws in the general interests by meth
DDS of violence rather than of eva
sion The CAPITALISTS will not enter
this conference with any defense of
the trusts beyond the point where
cooperation is beneficial to the con-
sumers of their products. Without
raking up old matters, it is cause for
regret that labor has seen fit to put
| forward as one Of its representatives
| the leader of the ship carpenters
strike, one of the chief opponents of
Mr.. Gompers. 1t would be misfor-
! tune for labor if Mr.. Hutcheson
should be able to impose upon the
conference his position that the car
penters have a right to choose with
! whom they will work, and even that
! Government or capital seeks to
! crush the unions by employing any
! worker satisfied with the conditions
of employment. The country needs
ships without regard to what sort OF
labor makes them. The demand for
a living wake is not to be confused
with the demand that some men
shall not be allowed to earn the wage
agreed TO De lar. Inc ulSpoSlllon
which the conference shall make of
this contentious point will decide
whether or not it was mistake to
include Mr. Hutcheson in the confer
ence.
Another stern duty before labor is
to accept the declaration of the Gov
eminent Adjustment Board that in
the present national emergency it is