New-York tribune., 1919-10-23
Shooting Niagara

tween the forces OIL CdpAtdl anu
labor? Why compromise or palter
with and postpone an issue which
some day must be met? Why not
gulp disagreeable medicine in one
dose and have the matter over with?
So runs discourse at Washington
not, of course, on the floor of the
conference, but where men privately
and candidly canvass the situation,
without being bound by the diffidence
of the platform.
There is agreement on the part of
labor that not for a long time will
it possess again the advantages now
with it. The radicals eXhort those
who listen to them not to be timid.
1t is believed that a fundamental
change in the organization Of in
dustry can be forced, and the doc
trine is necessarily preached that
strikes are justified even though
wages are high, employment general
The prime object, it is said, is to
demoralize and discourage employ
ers and drive them from the fac
tories.
On the other hand, the employers,
though admitting that numerical
power is arrayed against them and
that labor is able to do foolish things
if it seriously attempts them, feel
sanguine because of their faith in
certain economic laws and princi-
Piles that are deemed irrepealable.
They hold that it has over and over
been demonstrated that men acting
in voluntary cooperation are not as
efficient as when led by an EN-
ployer whose wages, or profits, de-
pend on his personal skill and judg-
ment. They declare that as whole
parts, and cause precedes conse-
quence, so nothing can be distributed
which is not previously produced,
and that if production is dimin-
ished the worker will and must get
less-and will ultimately see this.
Indeed, one Of the anomalies Of the
present discussion is that the en-
ployer seemingly has more faith in
the intelligence of labor than it's pro.
fessed friends, and counts on the
worker recognizing the truth. The
militant employer is thus ready tC
put theories to the test of expert
ence. He feels that he is no socia
parasite; that in broad way HI
creates more than he receives ant
that experiment will make this cleal
to even the dullest comprehension
and that then will follow an era O.
industrial peace and common sense
with all benefited by sound methot
of cooperation.
Nevertheless, there are reasons
and sound ones, why there should b,
compromise. Germany was whipped
but at what a cost. If there is in
dustrial war justice will win, but thi
Will not prevent misery during ant
subsequent to the conflict The Sil
Edward Greys who were willing te
sacrifice much to peace deserve tn.
plaudits of mankind. They failed a
last to save the situation, but unit
the armies moved there was ;
chance to save it.
1t is we'll for the logical to sa,
enat Niagara is just ahead an.
that il we must go over its brinl
there is no profit in delay But al
ways there is possibility that
way will be found to canalize cata
ract and to avoid disastrous dror
Let US not become the victims o
our metaphors. A metaphor, as
wise man remarked, seldom en-
bodies the whole truth, howbeit
IS gunpowder to drive one home.
The compromiscrs struggle t
prevent human misery. They ar
persuaded that if employers an
employed elect to fight to fnis
whichever side wins there Wi
be condition such as this countr
mas never known. They don't lik
10 think Of millions of jobless me,
and women roaming streets an,
highways. Russia has tried logic
1t does not pay. The world can
be run successfully on any on
theory.
The material conditions of tn,
masses of America were never bet
ter than now. The demand 70
goods il great because the averag,
man Itas wherewith to buy. Higl