Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-02
Wise Words From Labor.

THE wise and altogether admirable spirit
in which Mr.. George Haney, president
L. of the Atlanta Federation of Trades and
also of the blacksmiths' local union, COM
mented on President Wilson's pronouncement
concerning the railway shopmens demands
for higher wages will strike cordial re-
Spouse in the minds of all thoughtful Amerl-
cans. Speaking out in advance of the state
ments from the national leaders OF labor,
which happily concurred with his own views,
Mr.. Haney declared:
81 feel that the shop crafts have
great opportunity to perform yltally
imDortant service for the country-at-
large President Wilson has offered us
an increase of four cents an hour, instead
of the seventeen cents we asked for,
his statement announcing that the cost
. of living, which brought on the wage
demand, would be reduced if labor costs
could be held down and no radical in
creases made. l believe that it the
shop crafts take the president at his
word and accept the award of four cents
per hour with the assurance that speedy
action will be taken to bring about a
radical reduction in the cost of living,
then the union workers will have done
something for which the entire nation
can be thankful. 1t is an opportunity
for great good"
Here we have recognition of the inter-
dependent interests of organized labor and
of the unorganized public-or, rather, OF
that large field of common human interests
in which the little burrows and fences Of
vocational or group distinction fade into pal
trness. ga great opportunity to perform a
vitality important service for the country-at-
large" says Mr.. Haney of the situation in
which the men OF the allied shop crafts now
find themselves. 1t is also an opportunity
to serve their own best ends, for by taking
the wider view of the problem and joining
in the general campaign to reduce burden
some prices, they will be mastering the
strongest of social and economic forces to the
aid of their particular struggle with the high
cost of living. President Wilson made this
point plain when he said that at this juncture
such a wage increase as the shopmen had
asked would certainly result in still further
increasing the cost of production, "and there
fore the cost of living" SO that 1--WE should
only have to go through the same problem
again. Any substantial increase of wages in
leading lines of industry at this time would
utterly crush the general campaign which
the government is waging with energy, vigor
and substantial hope of success, to reduce the
high cost of living. And the increase in the
high cost of transportation which would nee
essarily result from increases in the wages
of railway employees would more certainly
and more Immediately have the effect than
any other enhanced wage COSTS" Undoubt-
edly, then, by proceeding upon this broad and
sound principle, instead of insisting upon
their first demands, the shopmen will be pro-
noting in the most effectual way possible
the very cause in which they are now i'm
mediately interested.
This, Mr.. Haney and liberal minds through
out the ranks of labor well perceive. But the
gratifying thing is that he and those of his
persuasion do not stop at the threshold of
their own craft, their own organization or
their own cause. They look beyond to the
rights and interest of their millions of fellow
Americans and see an opportunity to help the
country-at-large'- opportunity for great
good" It is heartening to hear this note sound.
ed anywhere; it is especially heartening to
hear it sounded by responsible leaders of labor
in this ,changeful and trying season of our
economic life. That is the spirit in which
every worthwhile cause, every cause that has
human sympathy in it's veins and, human
rights as it's goal will be advanced. It is
the spirit in which Americans all should move
and think, to the end that their common
good may be secured and their country made
equal to the great tasks of world service and
world leadership.