The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-05-20
CONTINUED from first page. ]


counsels of the peace conference and con
tribute what can to the solution of the
innumerable questions to whose settle
ment it has to address itself: for they
are questions which affect the peace of
the whole world and from them. there.
fore, the. United States cannot stand
apart. | deemed it my duty to call the
Congress together at this time because
1t was not wise to postpone longer the
provisions which must be made for the
support of the government MANY of
the appropriations which are absolutely
necessary for the maintenance of the
government, the fulfillment of its various
obligations flor the fiscal year. 1919 1920,
have not yet been made; the end of the
present fiscal year is at hand; and action
upon these appropriations can no longer
be prudently delayed 1t is necessary,
therefore, that | should Immediately call
your attention to this critical need. It
Is hardly necessary for me to urge that
it may receive your prompt attention
u shall take the liberty of addressing
you on my return on the subjects which
have most engrossed our attention and
the attention of the world during these
last anxious months, since the armistice
OF last November was signed, the inter
national settlements which must form
the subject matter Of the present treaties
OF peace and of our national action in
the immediate future. 1t would be pre-
mature to discuss them or to express
Judgment about them before they are
brought to. their complete formulation by
the agreements which are now being
sought at the table OF the conference. j
shall hope to lay them before YOU in
their many aspects so soon as arrange
ments have been reached.
II hesitate to venture any opinion or
press any recommendation with regard
to domestic legislation while absent from
the United States and out of daily touch
with intimate sources of information and
counsel. | am conscious that need
after so kong an absence from Washing
ton. to seek the advice Of those who have
remained in constant contact with do
nestle problems and who have known
them close at hand from day to day; and
| trust that it will very soon be possible
for me TO do so. But there are several
questions pressing for consideration toll
which feel that | may and, indeed
must, even now direct your attention. if
only in general terms. In speaking of
them shall, | dare say, be doing little
more than speaking your own thoughts
hope that ! shall speak your own iudg-
ment also.
The question which stands at the
front Of all others in every country
amidst the present great awakening j.
the question of labor; and perhaps | can
speak of il with as great advantage
while engrossed in the consideration of
which affect all countries alike
as | could at home, and mostly the in. |
terests which naturally most effect my
thoughts, because they are the interests |
Of our own people.
Labor Question.
BY the questions OF labor | do not |
mean the question of efficient industrial
production, the question of how labor is
10 be obtained and made effective in tile
great process Of sustaining populations
and winning success at commercial and
Industrial rivalries. | mean that much
greater and more vital question how are
he men and women who do the daily
abor Of the world to obtain progressive
Improvement in the conditions OF their
abor to be made happier and to be
eryed better by the communities and
he industries which their labor sustaips
md advances How are they to be Civ
n their right advantage as citizens and
human beings?
We cannot 60 any further in our
resent direction. We have already gone
90 far. We cannot live our right life
IS nation or achieve our proper success
IS an industrial community if capital
nd labor are to continue to be antagon.
site instead of being partners; if they
re to continue to distrust one another
nd contriye how they can get the better
4 one another; or, what perhaps
mounts to the same thing, calculate by
What form and degree of coercion they
an manage to extort on tie one hand
york enough to make enterprise prof
table, on the other justice and fair treat.
1ent enough to make life tolerable. That
ad road has turned out blind alley.
Is no thoroughfare to real prosperity.
We must find another, leading in an
Their direction and to very different
estimation. 1t must lead not merely to
ccommodation but also to genuine
cooperation and partnership based on a
cal community of interest and partici- !
alton in control.
There is now in fact real commu
ity of interest between capital and la
or, but it has never been made evident !
1 action. 1t can be made operative and
lanifest only in new organization of
ldustry. The genius of our business
len and the sound practical sense of
ur workers can certainly work such
out when once they realize !
Sactly what it is that they seek, and
merely adopt common purpose with
ogard to it.
Labor legislation lies, of course. prin-
pally with the states, but the new spir.
and method of organization which
lust be effected are not to be brought
bout by legislation so much as by the
'mmon counsel and voluntary. co opera
on of capitalist, manager and worker. :
cgislation can 90 only very little way !
! commanding what shall be done. fhe .
rganization of industry is matter of
,rporate and individual initiative and
practical business arrangement Those s
no really desire new relationship be- 9
yeen capital and labor can readily find Y
way to bring it about; and perhaps ?
legislation can help more
ian state legislation could. u
characterization of Industry" I
THE object of all reform in this es.
initial matter must be the genuine u
of industry, based upon c
full recognition Of the right of those