Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-20
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trial production. the question of how
labor is to be obtained aud made Of
fective in the great process of sus-
tanning populations and winning sue
cess amidst commercial and industrial
rivalries. I mean that much greater
and more vital question, How arc the
men and women who do the daily la
Dor of the world to obtain progress
i've improvement in the conditions OF
their labor. to be made happier, and
to be served better by the communities
and the industries which their labor
sustains and advances? How are
they TO be given their right advan-
tage as citizens and human beings!
We cannot go any further in our
present direction. We have already
gone too far. We cannot live our
right life as Il nation or achieve our
proper success as an industrial com
munity If capital and labor arc to
continue to be antagonistic instead
of being partners: if they are to con-
tinuc to distrust ono another and con
trive how they can get the better of
one another. Or. what perhaps
amounts to the same thing. calculate
by what form and degree of coercion
they can manage TO cXtort on tho one
hand work enough to mako enterprise
profitable: on the other justice and
fair treatment enough to make life
tolcrabIe. That bad road has turned
out blind alley. II is no thorough
fare to real prosperity. We must
find another. leading in another dircc-
ton and to very different d"stina-
tion. 1t must lead not merely to
accommodation. but also to genuine
90 operation and partnership based
upon real community of interest
and participation in control.
There is now in fact a real com
munity Of interest between capital
and labor. but it has never been made
evident in action. II can be made
operative and manifest only in new
organization of industry. The genius
of our business men and the sound
practical sense of our workers can
certainly work such partnership out
when once they realize exactly what
il is that they seek and sincerely
adopt Il common purpose with regard
to il.
Federal Labor Legislation
Labor legislation lies. of course.
chiefly with the states but the new
spirit and method of organization
which must be effected are not to be
brought about by legislation SO much
as by the common counsel and vOlum-
tarv co operation Of capitalist. man
agcr and workman. Legislation can
go only very little way in com
manGing what shall bH done. Tho
corporate and individual initiatives
and of practical business arrange
mont. Those who really desire u new
relationship between capital and
labor can readily find a way TO bring
il about; and perhaps federal legis.
lation can help more than state legis-
latiOn could.
The object of all reform in this
essential matter must be the genuine
characterization of industry. based
upon full recognition of the right Of
those who work of whatever rank to
participate in some organic way in
every decision which directly affects
their welfare or the part they are to
play in industry. Some positive
legislation is practicable. The Con-
gress has already shown the way TO
one reform which should be world
l,.. NH l;sl bo ;rI,
day rs the standard day in every
field Of labor over which il can eXer-
else control. II has sought to find the
way to prevent child labor. and will.
| hope and believe, presently find it.
1t has served the whole country by
lcadiu. the way in developing the
means of preserving and safeguarding
lif" anG health in dangerous indus
tries. 1t can now help in the difficult
task Of giving new form and spirit
TO industrial organization by co
Ordinnting the several agencies OF
conciIiatiun aud adjustment which
have been brought into existence by
the differences and mistaken policies
of the present management of indus.
try. and by setting up and develop
ing new federal agencies of advice
and information which may serve as
clearing house for tho best expert
monts and the best thought on this
great matter. upon which every
thinking man must be aware that tn"
future development Of society directly
depends.
Agencies Of international counsel
and suggestion are presently to be
created in connection with the league
of nations in this very field. but it
is national action and the PnIiGht-
cned policy of individuals. corpora
tiOns and societies within each nation
thar must bring about the actual re
forms. The members of the commit
tees on labor in the two houses will
hardly need suggestions from me as to
what means they shall seek to make
the federal government the agent Of
the whole nation is pointing out and.
If need be. guiding the process of re
organization and reform.
Urges Farm Land for Soldiers
7 am sure that it is not necessary
for mo to remind you that there is
one immediate and very practicabIr
question of labor that we should meet
in the most liberal spirit. We must
to me, not only as a merchant. bu