Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1919-05-30

make life tOlerabie. That bad road
has turned out a blind alley. II is
no thOroughfare TO real prosperity.
We must find another. leading in an
other direction and to very differ
ent destination. II must lead not
merely to accommodation but also To
genuine cooperation and partnership
based upon real community of inter
est and participation in control.
Labor legislation lies. of course.
chiefly with the states; but the new
spirit and method of organization
which must be effected. are. not to be
brought by legislation so much as by
the common counsel and voluntary
Ha,OperatiOn of capitalist. manager,
workman. Legislation can go only
cry little way i'm recommending what
ii be done. The organization of in
Ftry is matter of corporate and
ividual initiative and of practical
Finess arrangement. Those who
lily desire a new relationship be-
Zen capital and labor can readily
way to bring 1t about and per-
IS federal Legislation can help more
p state legislation could.
Industrial characterization.
The object of all reform in this
|ential matter must he the genuine
generalization of industry. based
pm full recognition of the right of
participate In some organic way In
every decision which directly affects
their welfare on the part they are to
play In industry. Some positive leg
islation is practicable. The congress
has already shown the way to one re-
form which should be worldwide, by
establishing the eight-hOur day as the
standard day Ia every field of labor
over which ii can exercise control. II
has sought to find the way to prevent
child labor. and. will. l hope and be-
lieve. presently find 1t. 1t has served
the whole country by leading the way
In developing the means of preserv-
ing and safeguarding life and health
in dangerous industries. The men,
bers of the committee on labor In the
two houses hardly need suggestions
from me as to what means they shall
seek to make the federal government
the agent Of the whole nation in point
ing out. and If need he. guiding the
process Of reorganization and reform.
Duty to Returning Soidiera
81 am sure that II Is not necessary
for me to remind that there is one
immediate and very practical question
Of labor that we should meet In the
most liberal spirit. We must see to II
that our returning soldiers are assist
ed in every practicable way to find
the places for which they are fitted In
the daily work Of this country. This
can be done by developing and main
tanning upon al adequate scale Whe ad.
morable organization created by the
department of labor for placing men
seeking work; and it can also be done
in at least one very great field. by ere
ating new opportunities for individual
enterprise. The secretary Of the In
terror has pointed out the way by
which returning soldiers may be helped
to find and take up land in the hither
to undeveloped regions Of the country
which the federal government has al
ready prepared or can readily prepare
for cultivation, and also on many oi
the cutover or neglected areas which
lie within the limits of the Older
states; and I once more take the lib
erty Of recommending very urgently
that his plan shall receive the immedi
ate and substantial support of the con
gress.
Future Commerce.
sour new merchant ships. which hav,
In some quarters been feared as de
structive rivals. may prove helpful riv
ais, rather, and common servants yer!
much needed and welcome. Our grea
shipyards, new and old. will he 81
opened to the use Of the world tina
they will prove immensely serviceabl,
to every maritime people in restoring
much more rapidly than would other
wise have been possible. the tonnag'
wantonly destroyed In the war.
have only to suggest that there mr.,
many points at which we can facili
tate American enterprise In foreigl
trade by oppOrtune legislation. ant
make II easy for Amesicen merchan
ships where they will be welcomed a
friends rather than as dreaded antag
Onists.
"And credit and enterprise alike viii
be quickened by timely and helpful
legislation with regard to taxation.
hope that the congress will find 1t pos
sible to undertake an early reconsid
| Grafton Of federal taxes. In order {
make our system Of taxation more sin
ple and easy Of administration and tn
taxes themselves as little burdensom
as they can be made and yet suffice {
support the government and meet a
its obligations. The figures TO whic
those obligations have arisen are yer
great indeed, but they are not so grea
as TO make it difficult for the nation (