Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-02

makes it possible, be plainly marked
with the price at which they left the
hands of the producer.
We should formulate n law requir-
| ing a federal license of all CORPORA
tions engaged in interstate commerce
and embodying in the license, or in
the conditions under which it is to
be issued. specific regulations design
ed to secure competitive selling and
| prevent unconscionable profits in the
method of marketing.
Shipping Reforms Much Needed
Such law would afford welcome
opportunity to effect other much
needed reforms in the business of
interstate shipment ard in the meth
DDS of corporations which are engaged
IN it; but for the moment ! confine
my recommendations to the object
Immediately in hand. which is to
lower the cost of living.
Definite Labor Program Needed
No one who has observed the march
OF events in the last year can fail
to note the absolute need of definite
program to bring about an improve
ment in the conditions of labor. There
can be no settled conditions leading
w ihNANtStu anu II Ebuut-
tion in the cost of living if labor and
capital are to be antagonists instead
of partners. Sound thinking and an
honest desire to serve the interests
of the whole nation, as distinguished
from the interests of class, must be
applied to the solution of this great
and pressing problem.
TAe failure of other nations to con-
slider this matter in a vigorous way
has produced bitterness and jcal-
ousies and antagOniSms, the food of
radicalism. The only way to keep
men from agitating against griev-
ances is to remove the grievances.
An Lnwillingness even 10 discuss these
matters produces only dissatisfaction,
ard gives comfort to the extreme ele-
ments in our country which endeavOr
TO stir up disturbances in order 10
provoke governments to embark upon
course Of retaliation and repression.
The seed of revolution is repression.
The remedy for these things must not
be negative in character. 1t must be
constructive. 1t must comprehend the
general interest. The real antidote
for the unrest which manifests itself
is not suppression, but deep con-
sideration of the wrongs that beset
our national life and the application
of a remedy.
Right of Collective Bargaining
Congress has already shown its
willingness to deal with these indus
trial wrongs by establishing the
eight hour day as the standard in
every field of labor. 1t has sought
to find Il way to prevent child labor.
1t has served the whole country by
leading the way in developing the
means of preserving and safeguard
ing lives and health in dangerous in
dustries. 1t must now help i'm the
difficult task of finding II method that
will bring about a genuine demOCra-
tizatiOn of industry. based upon the
full recognition of the right of those
who work. in whatever raniS, to par
ticipate i'm some organic way in every
decision which directly affects their
welfare.
1t is with this purpose in mind
that | called a conference to meet in
Washington on December / to cousid-
er these problems in all their broad
aspects, with the idea of bringing
about better understanding be-
tween these two interests.
Must Recognize LabOr's Aims
The great unrest throughout the
world out of which has emerged
demand for an immediate considera-
tion of the differences between capital
and labor, bids us put our own house
in order.
Frankly, there can be no permanent
and lasting settlements between capi-
tai ahu labor which do not recognize
the fundamental concepts for which
labor mas been struggling through the
years.
The. whole world gave its recogni-
tion and Endorsement to these funda-
mental purposes in the league of ma
tions. The statesmen gathered at
Versailles recognized the fact that
world stability could not be had by
reverting to Industrial standards and
conditions against which the average
workman of the world had revolted.
1t is expected, therefore, that the
task of the statesmen of this new day
of change and readiustment is to
recognize world conditions and to seek
to bring about through Legislation
conditions that will mean the ending
of age long antagonisms between
capital and labor and that will hope
fully lead to the building up of
comradeship which will result not
:.