Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-12-11

not be impaired ard its power to pro
duce may always be IA its height ana
kept in full yigor and motion. No
less regard ought to be paid to the hui
man machine. which, after all, pro-
pels the machinery Of the world and
is the great dynamic force that lies
back of all industry and progress.
Old Standards UnthnkabIe.
Return to the old standards of wage
and industry in employment is I'M
thinkable. The terrible tragedy Of
war which has just ended and which
has brought the world to the verge of
chaos and disaster would be in vain
if there should ensue a return to the
conditions of the past Europe itself,
whence has come the unrest which
now holds the world at bay, is an ex-
ample of standpatism in these vital
human matters which America might
we'll accept an example, not to be
followed, but studiously to be avoided.
Europe made labor the differential,
and the price of it all is enmity and an
tagonism and Frustrated industry.
The right of labor to live in peace
and comfort must be recognized by
governments, and America should be
the first to lay the foundation stones
upon which industrial peace shall be
built
Labor not only is entitled to an
adequate wage, but capital should re-
ceive a reasonable return upon it's in
vestment and is entitled to protection
at the hands of the government in
every emergency. No government
worthy of the name can play" these
elements against each other, for there
is mutually of interest between
them which the government must seek
to express and to safeguard at all
cost.
The right of individuals to strike is
inviolate and ought not to be inter-
fered with by any process of govern
ment, but there is predominant right,
and that is the right of the government
to protect all of it's people and to as
sert it's power and majesty against the
cnallenge or any class.
Defends Rights Of People.
The government, when it asserts
that right, seeks not to antagonize
a class, but simply to defend the right
of the whole people as against the
irreparable harm and injury that
might be done by the attempt of any
class to usurp a power that only gov
eminent itself has a right to exercise
as a protection to all.
In the matter of international dis
putes which have led to war, states
men have sought to set up as rem
edy arbitration for war. Does this
not point the way for the settlement
Of industrial disputes by the establish
ment of a tribunal, fair and just alike
to all, which will settle industrial dis
putes which in the past have led to
war and disaster?
America, witnessing the evil cOnSe-
quences which have followed out Of
such disputes between the cOntending
forces, must not admit itself impotent
to deal with these matters by means
of peaceful processes. Surely there
must be some method of bringing to-
gether in council of peace and amity
these two great interests, out of which
will come a happier day of peace and
cooperation, day that viii make for
more comfort and happiness in living
and more tolerable conditions among
all classes of men. Certainly human
intelligence can devise some accept
able tribunal for adjusting the differ
ences between capital and labor.
Hour of Test and Trial.
This is the hour of test and trial
for America. BY her pfOWess and
strength and the indOmitable courage
of her soldiers she demonstrated her
power to vindicate on foreign battle
fields her conception Of liberty and
justice.
Let not her influence as mediator
between capital and labor be weak
ened and her own failure to settle
matters of purely domestic concern
be proclaimed to the world. There
are those in this country who threaten
direct action to force their will upon
a majority.
Russia today, with its blood and
terror, is a painful object lesson OF
the power Of minorities. 1t makes lit
tie difference what minority it is;
whether capital or labor, or any other
class; no sort Of privilege will ever
be permitted to dominate this coun-
try.
We are a partnership or nothing
that is worth while.
We are a democracy, where the ma
jority are the masters, or all the hopes
and purposes of the men who founded
this government have been defeated
and forgotten.
In America there is but one way by
which great reforms can be accom-
plished and the relief sought by class
es obtained, and that is through the
orderly processes Of representative
government Those who would pro-
pose any other method of reform are