The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-20

stu seems to be my duty 20 take part
In the counRels Of the peace confer
eHce and contribute what ] can to the
solution Of the innumerRble questions
10 whose settlement il mas had TO ad-
dress Itself; for they are questions
which affect the peace Of the whole
world n from them, therefore, the
United States can not stand apart. l
deemed It my duty 10 call the con-
gress together at this time because Il
Was not wise to pestpone longer the
provisions which must Us made fer the
support Of the government. Many OF
the Appropriations which are abeo.
lutely necessary for the maintenance OF
the government and the fulfillment OF
It's varied obligations for the fiscal
year lsls-ls2o have not yet been made
the end OF the present fiscal year Is
AZ hand, and action upon these sppr9-
pTlations o. no longer be prudsnty
delayed. II il necessary, therefore, that
should Immediately Gail your atten-
ton to this critical need. II Is hardly
necessary for me to urge that 1t may
receive your prompt attention.
Il shall take the liberty Of address
ing you on my return on the subjects
which have most engrossed u attell-
ton and the attention OF the world
during these last anxious months, since
the armistice Of las November was
signed, the international 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 premature to dis
cuss them or to express q 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.
shall hope to lay them before you
In their many aspects 70 soon as ar
engagements have been reached.
Out of Touch.
Il hesitate to venture any opinion
or press any accommodation with re-
gard to domestic legislation while alb
sent from the United States n out
Of daily touch with intimate sources
of information and counsel. | am con-
scious that l need, after 80 long an
absence from Washington, TO seek the
advice Of those who have remained in
constant contact with domestic prob
lens and who have known them close
at hand from day to day; and | trust
that 1t will very soon be possible for
me to do SO. But there are several
questions pressing for consideration to
which l feel that / may, and indeed
must, even now direct your attention,
OF them, | shall, l desire say, be doing
little more than speak your own
thoughts. / hope that l shall speak
your own judgment also.
The question which stands at the
front Of all others in every country
amidst the present great awakening is
the question OF labor; and perhaps l
can speak OF 1t with as great advantage
while engrossed in the consideration OF
interests which affect all countries
alike as I could at home and amidst
the interests which naturally most af-
feet my thought, because they are the
interests OF our own people.
by the question or labor l do not
mean the question of efficient indus
labor is to be obtained and made ef-
fective In the great process Of sus-
tanning population and winning success
amidst commercial and industrial rival
rtes. ! mean that much greater and
more vital question, how are the men
and women who do the daily labor Of
the world to obtain progressive i'm
provement In the conditions Of their
labor, to be made happier, and to be
served better by the communities and
the industries which their labor Sus-
tains and advances? How are they to
be given their right advantage as citi-
zens and human beings?
We can not go any FARTHER in our
present direction. We have already
gone too far, we a not live our
right life as a nation or achieve our
proper success as an Industrial COM
munity II capital and labor are to con-
tinue to be a~ntagonistic instead Of be-
ing partners; II they are to continue
to distrust one another and contrive
how they can get the better OF one
another. Or, what perhaps amounts 10
the same thing, calculate by what form
and degree of coercion they a nan
age to extort on the one hand work
enough to make enterprise profitable,
on the other justice and fair treat
mont enough to make life tolerable.
That bad road a turned out a blind
prosperity. We must find another,
leading in another direction and to a
very different destination. 1t must
lead not merely to accommodation but
also to a genuine cooperation and
partnership based upon a real com
munity OF interest and participation in
control.
There Is now in fact a real com
munity Of interest between capital and
labor, but It has never been made evil
dent in action. 1t can be made opera
tive and manifest only in a new organi-
cation OF industry. The genius Of our
business men and the sound practical
sense of our workers can certainly
work such a partnership out when once
they realize exactly what 1t is that
they seek and sincerely adopt a com
mon purpose with regard to 1t.
Is Up to States.
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
about by legislation so much as by the
common counsel and voluntary cooper
alton of capitalist, manager and work.
man. Legislation can go only a very
little way in commanding what shall be
done. The organization Of industry is
a matter Of. corporate and individual
initiative and of practical business ar
rangement. Those who really desire a
new relationship between capital and
labor can readily find a way to bring 1t
about; and perhaps federal legislation
can help more than state legislation
could.
1.-THE object of all reform in this es-
sential matter must be the genuine