New-York tribune., 1919-05-22
The Labor Problem

(which stands at the front of all others
In every country is the question of
Labor. Then he adds that when he speaks
of questions of labor he does not mean
"the question of efficient industrial pro-
duction, the question of how labor is to
be obtained and made effective in the
great processes of sustaining populations
and winning success amid commercial
and industrial rivalries'
II nean," he says, chat much greater
land more vital question: How are the
men and women who do the daily labor
of the world to obtain progressive i'm
-provement in the condition of their
labor, to be made happier, and to be
served better by the communities which
their labor sustains and advances? How
are they to be given their right advan-
tage as citizens and human beings?"
What this means is not altogether
clear. but behind the concealing screen
that the progressive enhancement of life
which all desire is to come through max
ing distribution more equitable rather
than by accelerating production. 1t is
. scarcely necessary to point out that the
'sphase of the labor problem thus selected
for emphasis to the intimidation of the
|; other is a path that has been we'll beaten
L in recent years by our Socialist friends.
-Lenine and Trotzky, with great zeal,
f. espoused this theory. They believed that
if wealth could be but seized and the
profits of private owners be divided all
would be we'll
:. It took Lenine less than six months to
discover his error Production prac-
tically ceased and distribution accord
ing to the hearts desire did not afford
=. much nutriment when there was slender
: supply of things to Distribute "The
production problem" shouted Lenine, "is
the heart of socialism," He demanded
= that the workers speed up and called
for the most rigid labor discipline, even
the Taylor system. He wanted to hire
. the hated bourgeoisie to run factories
!. and promised them, for their individual
possession, salaries which would be as
many in rubles as had been their old
! profits. 1t was grimly made plain that
|. production came first
|: The labor problem is now as ALWAYS
problem of production. Distribution
Is important, but secondary Labor con-
|. ditions are better in this country than
|. IN others because the American work.
> ingman produces more than other work
: lngmen. If his hours are so shortened
as to lessen production and there is no
offsettlng Improvement in methods. a
complete absorption of profits will
scarcely avail to make him a happier
human being. If the campaign for
equity in distribution is carried 50 far
as to take away from skill special re-
ward and to deprive the capable man.
ager of a wage that stimulates him to
fnli exercise Of his talents, the man of
TABOR viii have less leisure, poorer food.
coarser clothes and suffer loss of com
forts and luxuries. This is the lesson
Of Russia
The conjcined brain Of this country.
If our masses arc IN cop+c,,o +
|. Joy the standard of living to which thew
are accustomed, should devote itself to
magnifying the product per worker.
This is the big thing. When we have
attained IT then let us do all possible to
+. secure an equitable division. But not tn
the neglect Of the big thing. The man
who slacks on the Job is as nuch an
enemy TO all in peace time as in war
|. time.
L The consequences Of more workers
with iess product are mathematically
certain What this country needs Is a full
/. understanding that the fewer men there
are on q particular job the more there
! VIII he for all. This il now obscurea
! in many quarters, and the obscuration
has gone far enough to justify some
anxiety. We're we completely intelligent
we would not laud particular factory
because it was taking on moro men. but
because 1T was turning out under humane
T conditions more goods per operative