The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-07-05


We must find another, leading In an
other direction and to very differ
ent destination. 1t must lead not
merely to accommodation but also to
genuine cooperation and partnership
based upon a real community Of inter
est and participation in control.
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 by legislation so much as by
the common counsel and voluntary
cooperation Of capitalist, manager.
and workman. Legislation can go only
very little way In recommending what
shall be done. The organization Of in
dustry is q matter Of corporate and
individual initiative and Of practical
business arrangement. Those who
really desire a new relationship be-
tween capital and labor can readily
find way to bring 1t about; and per.
haps federal legislation can help more
than state legislation could.
Industrial Decentralization.
1.-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, In whatever rank, to
participate in some organic way in
every decision which directly affects
their welfare on the part they are to
play In industry. Some positive leg
islation Is practicable. The congress
has already shown the way to one re-
form which should be worldwide. by
establishing the eight-hour day as the
standard day in every field Of labor
over which IL can exercise control. 1t
has sought to find tho way to prevent
child labor. and will, hope and be-
lfeve, presently nnd It. It has served
the whole country BY leading the way
in developing the means Of preserv-
Ing and safeguarding life and health
in dangerous industries. The mem
bers Of the committee on labor In the
two houses hardly need suggestions
from ne as to what means they shall
seek to make the federal government
tho agent OF the whole nation IN point
ing out and If need be, guiding the
process Of reorganization and reform.
Duty 70 Returning Soldiers
Il am sure that 1t is not necessary
for me to remind that there Is one
immediate and very practical question
OF labor that we should meet In the
most liberal spirit. We must see to 1t
that our returning soldiers ore assist
ed in every practicable way to find
the places for which they are fitted In
the daily work Of this country. This
can be done BY developing and main
tanning upon an adequate scale the ad-
morable organization created BY the
department Of labor for placing men
seeking work and 1t can also be done,
| In at least one very great field, by ere
ating new opportunities for individual
enterprise. The secretary Of the In
terror has pointed out the way by
which returning soldiers may be helped
| to find and take up land In the hither-
to undeveloped regions Of the country
which the federal government has al
ready prepared or can readily prepare
for cultivation. and also on many OF
the cutover Or neglected areas which
lie within the limits Of the older
states; and I once more take the lib
erty Of recommending very urgently
that his plan shall receive the immedi.
ate and substantial support Of the con.
gress-
Future Commerce.
"Our new merchant ships. which have
In some quarters been feared as de-
structive rivals, may prove helpful riv
ala, rather. and common servants very
much needed and welcome. Our great
shipyards, new and old, will be q
opened to the use Of the world tina,
they will prove immensely serviceablt
to every maritime people in restoring
much more rapidly than would other
wise have been possible. the Tonnage
wantonly destroyed In the war.
have only to suggest that there ar,
many points at which we can facili
tate American enterprise in foreign
trade by opportune legislation. ant
make 1t easy for American merchan
ships where they will be welcomed a.
friends rather than as dreaded antag
onists.
"And credit and enterprise alike will
be quickened by timely and helpful
legislation with regard to taxation.
hope that the congress will find 1t pos
sible to undertake an early reconsid
GRAFTON Of federal taxes, In order t
make our system Of taxation more sim
pie and easy Of administration and tn
taxes themselves as little burdensom
as they can be made and yet suffice t
support the government and meet a
its obligations. The figures to whic
those obligations have arisen are yer
great indeed. but they are not so grea
as to make it difficult for the nation t
meet them, and meet them, perhaps, Il
a single generation. by taxes whic
will neither crush nor discourage
They are not SO great as they seen
not so great as the immense sums "
have had to borrow. added to the I'm
| m kn 70 O.