Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-21
BARRIERS THAT BLOCK PROGRESS

Out of the crucible of war invis ible forces have been released which are today affecting every phase of economic, political and social life, declared Francis H. Sisson, vice president of the Guaranty Trust com pany of New York in an address de- livered at the annual convention of the Virginia Bankers association, Old Point Comfort, Virginia
 MT. Sisson also said in part:
 The obstacles which confront us must be removed if we are to take the place in world leadership await ing us. Among the most important of these are the barriers to a better understanding and working basis be- tween labor and capital. President Wilson did not unduly emphasize the importance of the problem when, in his latest message to congress. he declared, "The question which stands at the front of all others in every country amidst the present great awakening is the question labor.
 But labor must be on guard against a grave danger, from which no one but labor itself can save it. I mean the peril of being misled by false friends, by impractical and un- sound thinkers who seek to exert an influence that is unwarranted by their experience, or rather lack of experience, and to lead labor into and unsafe experiments which can- not solve 1abor's problems and serve only to erect greater barriers be- tween employees and employers, as well as to injure the interests of so- ciety generally. Labor should be deaf to the parlor exponent of dan gerous socialistic theories and avoid as a pestilenee the agitator who comes to them, in the guise of their own kind but who would wreck the very house that labor is building to protect itself from the clements of industrial strife.
 ''But labor will doubtless insist in creasingly upon the right of collec- tive bargaining, and in the long run, those employers will fare best who are disposed to take labor by the hand rather than by the, throat. Like wise these laborers will gain most and permanently who deserve to be taken by the hand.
 Another serious barrier to our na- tional progress and prosperity which must be overcome if we are to full
  venes between the government and business interests. We must have a l government cooperation with and I support for American investors 1T 1 foreign securities; likewise, we mus l have such cooperatio and support i for American business. instead, as ] heretofore, a spirit of antagonism i suppression and obstruction Busi- i ness does not need or want pattern l alistic aid. All that it desires is that for which it toiled and fought in the interests of it's country and human ity during the world war-freedom- 1 freedom to develop the productivity so urgently needed the world over and which is the only solution to tht high cost of living, for the prevailing
 prices of wages and materials, can not be appreciably reduced now with
 out disastrous results to industry. But the full development of tha productivity will not be possible un i less we permit business to function without blighting restraints. It mus not be burdened with taxes whicl penalize production and discourag expansion, although business doe not shirk it's fair share of war costs
 It must not have it's feet bound, afte the ancient fashion of the Chinese an, fbe expected to make seven-leagu strides. In other words, it must no
 be hampered and harassed by sucl
 antiquated statutes on land as tn Sherman law and upon the sea b
 such as the LaFollette Seamen'
 act, nor must it be regulated by DO litical, personal, class or sectiona
 prejudice or interest.
 Finally we must not permit
 barrier of pessimism to obscure ou
 world wide vision. As labor shoul
 close its ears to false friends. $
 business should refuse to hearken t
 unfamiliar with or ignore the histor
 of mankind and the fundaments
 facts of human nature. We are em ; inently unjust to those who fougf our fight for democracy for more tha , three years when we under-rate the ! l assetS-not their material assets S , much as their intangible assets ( ) mind, of courage, of spirit. Ant furthermore the psychological reac tions of such a mistake 'militat against the rendition of the full as : sistance which we are capable , extending to our less fortunate Allie , and friends overseas.
 5 'Unquestionably the situation Europe is chaotic at the present tim Nothing else could be expected afte l four and half years of the mo; ? destructive warfare in all histor.
 Financial industrial, commercial, an . political disorder are to be found 0 | all sides. The destruction of wealt and the imitation that have followe are serious, but it is equally true ths , natural resiliency of human natul s is bound to bring a return to tt 7 normal in the course of time, an , that the recuperative power of me and nations is certain to be fe , speedily afteh peace treaty is signe Men and nations are, for the mo- :. part, honest, industrious, lovers , order and ambitious to progres . These motive impulses are certain : prevail and ultimately dominate dul , ing the readjustment process.
 surely as the war was won by tf , United States and the allies thel :. will come out of the existing chat a gradual rehabilitation in which "
 can and must play an inportaI part, both to our own profit and the great benefit of others. But V must not allow our eyes to be blindt to OUT own minds confused about u | real truth of the situation.
 :. NO one can predict the future, 3 course, but we can discount it