South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-20
Other Editors Than Ours
THE WAR ADMINISTRATIONS LABOR POLICY ONE
OF WISDOM.
louisville Courier-Journal

~ NlNDOn.
louisville Courier-JOurnaI)
The later labor policy OF the national administration
has been distinctly a war policy. Decisions have been
made. steps have been taken. far reaching changes have
been Effected. all under the determinant Of war.
The tendencies and the achievements Of the admins
tration's labor policy must oe understood in this light.
The war must ever he kept in mind. I'm arriving AT
judgments on issues of significance to the workers OF
the country the president has obviously always had in
view the necessities OF the great armies overseas. In
appraising things which have happened and which are
impending, il is therefore needtul TO utilize this same
criterion.
The Isror poIicy OF Prest Wilson represents the in
terests OF the entire nation. Perhaps at no other period
in the history of the country has that been true. At
the present time the tabor policies characteristic OF the
administration are bigger than any faction. party, or
class. They were born out OF the interests of no paru-
cular group. They have i'm every case sprung from a
deliberate and o~Pen-minded judgment concerning the
true necessities Of q nation engaged in a struggle for
its very life. Principles which seem TO promise the
greatest aid i'm enabling the American people TO use
their fun energies against the German zoe nave peeh
accepted. The unstinted strength, the unleashed powers
Of the manhood and the womanhood of the United
States have been the goals sought in basic readjust-
The department Of labor is itself a development Of
the two Wilson administrations. The great growth and
ripening of the social conscience of che nation during
the last six years have also been in no small way ad-
vanced by the policies which are associated with the
department Of labor. Without break the administration
has stood for an equal enforcement or the existing laws
The great Colorado strike IF 1914 first called on the
exercise Of the presidents powers. Federal troops We're
sent TO the Colorado coal field al the presidents direc-
ton. They there maintained the peace with satisfaction
to both beHigerent groups. There was no criticism of the
presidents policy i'm that troubled field.
When the war came closer TO the United States the
department ar labor first set itself to put at the dis
posaI of this country the benefits OF the experience of
Great Britain and France and Of the other nations at
war with labor problems. This was done In "a generous
and wise spirit. The department OF labor and the ad-
ministation of which it is So important a part. were
determined thar 10 false step should he made by the
American people. I'm consequence OF this foresight the
United states has avoided many OF the complications so
costly and so unpleasant i'm Great Britain.
I'm numerous ways the administrations war labor
policy began 10 express itself. First of all the president
10y eloquent words of his own stenmed the tide OF re
action which looked 20 the building up during the war
of a feudaI contro. Of labor. The president himself first.
that the standard of living which labor had raised dur
ing SO many years of painful sacrifice must not be un-
consciously lowered. Standards of health. OF well-being.
both in the home and in industry were Kept up very
largely because oil the timely warning from the white
house. Provisions were inserted i'm government contracts
boards of supervision were established TO the end
that the war for democracy should not degrade the peo-
pie who at home were performing tasks prerequisite
to victory.
As the months wore on and the labor problem itself
doomed larger. new and courageous policies were an
nounced. The first of these was embodied i'm the ma
uonal war labor program. This i'm itself was a by
product Of the work of the presidents mediation COM
mission. That commission. headed by the secretary OF
labor and made up Of equal representations Of en-
ployers and of organized labor leaders, Went about the
country investigating for tn president certain persistent
industrial quarrels The mediation commission had no
table success iu bringing peace TO troubled sections Of
Iht COUNT anu lN h'NTAtiNN4h- NAt WoA PAtu1NtlpNs a.
"a final task it urged upon the president the necessity
of a truce between labor and industry for the period Of
The war. Five representatives. of industry and five rep
reseutati.es of labor. assisted Toy former Prest William
IN. Taft. and Frank a. Walsh. drew up an agreement
This has become sort of Magma Charta I'm the indus
trial ield. First OF ali both industry and labor Welded
thc strike and the lock out. BY agreement there was i'm
the future Co Ue no cessation OF production for the dura-
tou o. the wal. The employers and employees together
worked ont a just basis OF agreement. To labor was
assured The right Of an workers. including even the
uuskTIed. 20 Twins wage which VIII, insure the sup
port OF the worker and Of his tamil, i'm health and in
comfort No such assurance ever before m
The history Of mankind had been given 10 all the people
OF great nation.
Furthermore. tie attitude of the administration was
revealed u the provision that the basic eight hour day
is recognized r al cases I'm which the existing law re-
uuired 10 aud that moreover. "the question of hours Of
labor shau uc settled with due regard to governmental
necessities aud th. Welfare. health ami proper comfort
of tue WORKERS This voluntary agreement was promul-
stated tnJ mad, hindtu= by t presidential proclamation
uu April IS. 1e1>.
FoloNins This he next step Was utkeF in The cres-
lou of The war labor policies board. representing all
the departments and branches of the national govern
ment engaged in the persecution of the war This poll
-fe> board was d-Sisued as am ifterdepsrtmental or
uanizsuon Go hrine into heine 90 unified and intelligent
lahor poics affecting an government work and all war
industry.