The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-05-23

present direction. We have already
gone too far. We cannot live our
right life as q nation or achieve our
proper success as an industrial COM
munity If capital and labor are to be
antagonistic instead of being partners.
If they are to continue to distrust one
another and contrive how they can get
the better of one another or what per-
haps amounts to the same thing, cal
culate by what form and degree or
coercion they can manage to extort
on the one hand work enough to make
enterprise profitable. on the other JUS
tice and fair treatment enough 70
make life tOlerable. That bad road
has turned out a blind alley. 1t Is
no thoroughfare to real prosperity.
We must find another, loading in an
other direction and to very diner
ent destination. 1t must lead not
merely to accommodation but also 10
genuine cooperation and partnership
based upon q 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 Dy
the common counsel and voluntary
cooperation of capitalist, manager
and workman. Legislation can go only
very little way in commanding what
shall be done. The organization of in
dustry is a matter Of corporate and
individual initiative and Of practical
business arrangement. Those VINO
really desire a new relationship be-
tween capital and labor can readily
find a way to bring it about; and per-
haps federal legislation can help more
than state legislation could.
Industrial Decentralization.
"The object of all reform in this
essential matter must be the genuine
decentralization 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 Or 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 it can exercise control. LII
has sought to find the way to prevent
child labor, and will, I hope and be-
lieve, presently find it. 1t 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 me as to what means they shall
seek to make the federal government
the agent of the whole nation in point
ing out, and if need be, guiding the
process of reorganization and re-
form.
Duty to Returning Soldiers.
ST am sure that it is not necessary
for me TO remind that there is one
of labor that we should meet in the
most liberal spirit. We must see to 1t
that our returning soldiers are 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 adj
mirabIe organization created by the
department of labor for placing men
seeking work ; and it 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 or
the cut-0ver or neglected areas which
lie within the limits of the older
states; and [ 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-
ais, rather, and common servants very
much needed and welcome. Our great
shipyards, new and old, will be so
opened to the use of the world that
they will prove immensely serviceable
to every maritime people in restoring,
much more rapidly than would other
wise have been possible, the tonnage
wantonly destroyed in the war. l
have only to suggest that there are
many points at which we can facili-
tate American enterprise in foreign
trade by opportune legislation, and
make it easy for American merchant
ships where they will be welcomed IS