The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-12-05
cost of living.

No one who has observed the march
of events in the last year can fail to
note the absolute need of a definite
program to bring about an improve
ment in the conditions of labor. There
| can be no settled conditions leading
to- increased production and a reduc-
ton in the cost of living II labor and
capital are to be antagonists instead
of partners. Sound thinking and an
honest desire to serve the interests Of
the whole nation, as distinguished
from the interests Of a class, must be
applied to the solution of this great
and pressing problem.
The failure of other nations to con-
slider this matter in vigorous way
has produced bitterness and jealousies,
antagonism, the food of radicalism.
tating against grievances is to remove
the grievances. An unwillingness
even to discuss these matters pro-
duces only dissatisfaction and gives
comfort to the extreme elements in our
country which endeavor to stir up dis
turbances in order to provoke govern
ments to embark upon course of re-
taliation and repression. The seed of
revolution is repression. The remedy
| for these things must not be negative
in character, it must be constructive.
1t must comprehend the general inter
est The real antidote for the unrest
| which manifests itself is not suppress
/ sion but a deep consideration of the
wrongs that beset our national life
and the application of remedy.
Congress had already shown it's will
lingness to deal with these industrial
wrongs by establishing the eight-hour
day as the standard in every field of
labor. 1t has sought to find way to
prevent child labor. 1t has served the
whole country by leading the way in
developing the means of preserving
and safeguarding lives and health in
dangerous industries. 1t must now
help in the difficult task of finding a
method that will bring about genuine
characterization of industry, based
upon the full recognition of the right
Of those who work, in whatever rank,
to participate in some organic way
in every decision which directly af-
fects their welfare. 1t is with this
purpose in mind that I called con-
ference to meet in Washington on
December 1 to consider these problems
in all their broad aspects with the
idea of bringing about better under
standing between the two interests.
| Unrest Shows Need of Action.
| The great unrest throughout the
world, out of which has emerged a
demand for an immediate considera-
ton of the difficulties between capital
and labor, bids us put our own house
in order. Frankly, there can be no
I permanent and lasting settlements be-
tween capital and labor which do not
recognize the Fundamental concepts
for which labor has been struggling
through the years. The whole world
gave it's recognition and endorsement
to these fundamental purposes in the
league of nations. The statesmen
gathered at Versailles recognized the
fact that world stability could not be
had by returning to industrial stand
ards and conditions against which the
average workman of the world had re-
volted. .r.. ..-
1t is, therefore, the task of the
statesmen of this new day of change
and readjustment to recognize world
conditions and to seek to bring about,
through legislation conditions that
will mean the ending of age long an
tagonisms between capital and labor
and that will hopefully lead to the
building up of comradeship which
will result not only in greater con-
tentment among the mass of workmen
but also bring about a greater produc-
ton and a greater prosperity to bust
ness itself.
To analyze the particulars in the
demands of labor is to admit the JUS
tice of their complaint in many mat
tiers that lie at their basis. The work
man demands an adequate wage, suf-
ficient to permit him to live in COM
fort, unhampered by the fear OF pow
erty and want in his old age. He de-
mands the right to live and the right
to work amidst sanitary surroundings,
both in home and in workshop. sur
rounding that develop and do not re-
tard his own health and well-being;
and the right to provide for his chill
dren's wants in the matter of health
and education. In other words, it is
his desire to make the conditions of
his life and the lives of those dear to
him tolerable and easy to bear.
| League Shows Way, He Says.
The establishment of the principles
regarding labor laid down in the cove
nant of the league of nations offers
us the way to industrial peace and
Cancellation. No other road lies open
| to us. Not to pursue this one is long
er to invite emnities, bitterness and
antagonisms which in the end only
lead to Industrial and social disaster.
The unwilling workman is not profit
able servant. An employe whose in
dustrial life is hedge about by hard
and unjust conditions, which he did
not create and over which he has no
control, lacks that fine spirit of en-
thusiasm and volunteer effort which
are the necessary ingredients of a
great producing entity. Let us be
frank about this solemn matter. The
evidences of world wide unrest which
manifest themselves in violence
throughout the world bid us pause and
consider the means to be found to stop
the spread of this contagious thing
before it saps the very vitality Of the
nation itself.
DO we gain strength by Withholding