Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-29
Both Sides to Cain if En-.
ployers and Capitalists
Liberalize Their Vie,Us.
Says Findncier
Development Of man
Sympathy and Grasp OF
Economic Principles Seen
as Arerting Trouble
By FRANK A. VANDERBILT

Perhaps there is no single mental
effect of the war that is more significant
than the changed attitude of European
employers. to he.whole labor question.
There is disposition to examine the
very fundamentals of labor dissatisfac-
ton and to accept as not only neces :
sary. but probably as desirable. quite
new status Of the workers. particularly
in relation to giving them n really effec e
tive voice in the management of in
dustry.
All this may sound very revolution
ary to an employer who has counted
labor costs as he has counted the cost
of copper or steel or cotton.
There has been a great awakening
in Europe. however, to the difference
between buying the raw material com :
modities and the buying of the labor
element that. combined with them
makes the finished product.
Employers New VISION
! EMPLOYERS have begun to distrust
their old point Of view and to take ne"
and far more human attitude toward
the whole labor problem.
There is an underlying optimism IN
their minds that has led many Of them
to believe that perhaps after all these
demands of.labor were not merely con
| -. 20, Mia nd
to be resisted at every step. but rather
that it is possible that in the direction
of these demands lies the basis of new
understanding and true co operation
between capital and labor.
The employers attitude in this re-
spect is undoubtedly quickcned by the
fear that If labor now encountered n
Tory obstinacy on the part of employ
ers. there would be danger that their
part of the world at least would be
launched on vast and frightfully dan
gerous experiment in one type or an
other of 'nationalsm' or 'commun-
ism. - the generic term for which in
evcrybody's mind is now "bolshevism. -
There is truly new intellectual aris-
tocracy growing up in England. fed
from the ranks Of labor and having an
outlook, an understanding, a sympathy
and withal grip on the economic veri-
ties that marks the most promising and
significant development
Americas Chance
In the great war America achieved
the freeing of herself from the incubus
of militarism at the cost of sacrifice
which, compared with the sacrifice made
by the nations associated with her. has
been small indeed.
She faced world situation in which
military power seemed likely to be set
up as the predominant force.
With all the rest of the world she is
now free. it is to be hoped, from that
terrible catastrophe and, she has for
tunately secured freedom at no crush
ing cost.
believe that it lies within the power
of American employers and of America n
capitalists similarly to make short
cut without great sacrifice to future
of industrial peace, and to escape what
might be a conflict that would be as
dangerous TO her national life and pros
perity as was the conflict we have so
happily passed through.
That short cut may be reached il
these interests will now with one ac-
cord come to the point of view. that has
already been reached by European en-
ployers and capital.
That will require a true vision, a