Republican farmer., 1919-05-23

We cannot go any forther in our present direction We have already gone too far. We cannot live our right life as e. nation or achieve our proper success as an industrial com Inunity if capital and labor are to continue being antagonistic and if they continue to dtstr7ist one another; or what perhaps amounts to the same thing, calculate by what form and decree of coercion they can manage to extort on the one hand work enough to make enterprise profitable on the other justice and fair treat ment enough to make life tolerable. That bad road has turned out a blind alley. Tt is no thoroughfare to real prosperity. We must find another, leading in another direction and to a very different destination. It must lead not merely to adoption but also to a genuine cooperation and part nersiTip based on a real community of interest and participation in con trol.
 There is now in fact a real com munity of interest between capital an labor. but it has never been made evident in action. It can be made operative and manifest only in a new organization of industry. The ge- nlus of our businessmen and the sound prodigal sense of our workers can certainly work such a partner ship out when once they realize ex- actly what it Is they see and sim Cersly adopt a common purpose with regard to it.
 Labor legisla ton 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 l,aI untary cooperation of capitalist manager and workman. Lesislat tioh can go only a very Little way in com rnandinr what shall be done. The orrariza lon of industry. The ge- of individual initiative and of prac- tical business advancement. Those who really desire new relationship D between capital and labor can read fly find a way to bring 1t about and perhaps federal legislation can help more than state legislation could.
 The object of all reform in this especial matter must be genuine dem coordination of industry, based upon a full recognition of the right of those who work, in whatever rank to par tIcipate in some organic way. Some positive legislation Is practicable. The Congress has already shown the way to one reform which should be work ed wide, by establishing the eight hour day as the standard day in every field of labor over which it can control. IL has sought to find the way to pre- vent child labor. and will, I hope and Believe, presently find it. It has serv- d the whole country by leading tho way in developing tho means of pre- serving and safeguarding life and hfalth in dangerous ind ustries.
 Tt can now help in the difficult task of new form and spirit to indus trial orsanizations by cooperating the several agencies of conciliation and adjustment which have been brought into existence by the difficulties and mistaken policies of the present man. seement of industry. and by setting upland developing new federal asen- cfes of advice and Information which sefSe as a clearing house for the besr experimentaIs and the best Thought on this great matter, upon which every thinking man must be awAre that the future development feseciety directly depends. Agencies cP nRernAtiona1 council and sugges- ton arc presently to bs created fn eonnsctssa wish the Ieagus of Ma
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