The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-05-30

treatment enough to make life toler-
able.
That bad road has turned out a blind
alley 1t is no thoroughfare to real
prosperity. We must find another,
leading in another direction and to a
very different destination. 1t must
lead not merely to accommodation, but
also to a genuine cooperation and
partnership based upon a real commu-
nifty of interest and participation in
control.
There is now in fact real COM
munity of interest between capital and
labor, but it has never been made evil
dent in action. 1t can be made opera
tive and manifest only in a new or
ganization Of industry. The genius of
our business men and the sound prac-
teal sense of our workers can GER
tainly work such a partnership out
when once they realize exactly what
it is that they seek and sincerely
adopt q common purpose with regard
to it.
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 vol
untary cooperation Of capitalist, man
ager, and workman. Legislation can
go only very little way in command
ing what shall be done. The organi-
zation of industry Is matter of cor
porate and individual initiative and of
practical business arrangement. Those
who really desire new relationship
between capital and labor can readily
find way to bring it about; and per-
haps federal legislation can help more
than state legislation could.
The object of all reform in this es-
sential matter must be the genuine
characterization of industry, based
upon a 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 legis-
lation 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. Ii
has sought to find the way to prevent
child labor, and will, hope and be-
lieve, presently find it. 1t has served
the whole country by leading the way
in developing the means of preserving
and safeguarding life and health in
dangerous industries. 1t can now help
in the difficult task of giving new
form and spirit to Industrial organiza-
ton by co-ordinating the several
agencies Of Cancellation and adjust
ment which have been brought into ex-
istence by the difficulties and mistaken
policies of the present, management of
industry, and by setting up and de-
veloping new federal agencies OF adj
vice and information which may serve
as clearing house for the best ex-
periments and. the best thought on
this great matter, upon which every
thinking man must be aware that the
future development Of society directly
depends.
League Of Nations.
Agencies of International counsel
and suggestion are presently to be ere
ated in connection with the League of
Nations in this very field, but it is ma
tional action and the enlightened poll
CIV of individuals, corporations and So
ciefies within each nation that must
bring about the actual reforms. The
members of the committees 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 in pointing out and, if need be,
guiding the process of reorganization
and reform.
Assist Returning Soldiers.
am sure that it is not necessary
for me to remind you that there is
one immediate and very practical ques-
ton of labor that we should meet in
the most liberal spirit. We must see
to it that our returning soldiers are
assisted in every practicable way to
find the places for which they are
| fitted in the daily work of the country.
This can be done by developing and
maintaining upon an adequate scale
the admirable organization created by
the department of labor for placing
men seeking work, and it can also he
done, in at least one very great field,
by creating new opportunities for in
dividual enterprise. The secretary of
the interior has pointed out the way
by which returning soldiers may be
helped to find and take up land in the
hitherto undeveloped regions of the
country which the federal government
has already 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 once more take
the liberty of recommending very ur-