The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-19
THE rWo INDUSTRIAL POWERS.

The real leaders of labor in this country have
seled moderation and postponement of all tests of
strength until after the national conference at Washing
ton, to begin October s. They have displayed spirit
that is most commendable and have won friends for
their general cause among the people There mis-
guided and incompetent who set themselves up for
labor leaders, the other hand who would have done
great damage to the prestige of the organized labor
movement if workngmen had followed their foolish and
impatient leadership. Fortunately for all concerned,
American workngmen capable of leading themselves
and do not require alaried do their thinking for
them. In dealing with the wage question, the citizens
of America may be relied upon to reach an agreement,
for they have the habit of sefgovernment and the in
stinct of teamwork.
No doubt several more novel suggestions will be of
fered in the belief that they improvements upon the
old plan of volunteer labor at wages mutually satisfac
tory. But is there any better fundamental plan? What
other arrangement can be made among free men? The
workingman, organized unorganized is an American
citizen, with rights equal to those by any other
American however rich indusrally powerful In or
der to obtain the cooperation of the free citizen who
abors with his hands, the other citizen must pay him
eeptable wages If either party proposes additional
ditions the others agreement must be had before the
teamwork begins.
Inc more the question OF laD0f Is SCudled Lne more
logical does it appear that both sides should organize
If both employers and employed completely organ
lied in the United States basis which recognize that
each is indispensable to the other they would be compel
ed to adjust all differences and would usually cooperate
in such fashion to avoid differences Justice would
not only be done but it would be done more quickly and
more automatically. Public opinion would operate more
powerfully because it would concentrate Immediately
uno olodi st ;,l,e
wonderful machine, delicate in some parts, but massive
and certain in its operation, the industrial mechanism of
the United States would disclose any bad adjustments
and everybody concerned would mend them.
The early increase of all of products is the
great necessity There should be speeding up of pro-
duction The country suffering from any shortage
except shortage of production and it this which sends
prices up The only product which has been turned out
in excessive quantities is money Money and credit have
been produced and expanded to such make
labor of food because it is not worth much has been
cheapened still further by diluton or Imitation" The
war finance corporation has taken good moneyas good
as there sand bought liberty bonds to the extent of
about $1,000 100000. That good plan so far as
liberty bonds is concerned but it is in fact trade of
money for PROMISE in other words degradation of
the security and therefore of the value that ought to in
here in American dollar The billion has been sent
out to debilitate other dollars.
There is much energy wasted in quarres between cap
a and labor in view of the fact that neither is respon
sibc for the others ills. Both are suffering from COM
mon aimen but capital in the greatest danger for all
hte physical strength has is the dollar and the dollar
is growing feebler every day
Capital and labor distinct expressions of the same
energy One is accumulation of the other Neither
can live without the other under modern conditions and
there no reason why they should try live separately
or at odds Their strength is in union and cooperation
At this time when both are suffering they should under
stand clearly what their ailment is and proceed to throw
1T off by prompt teamwork If either dared to be gen.
erous the other could we'll afford to be So The moment
they discover that encroachment the others rights is
species of suicide they will find mutual boundary line
They can not do much individually in fragmentary or
ganization. They should go forward with national or
ganzaton, without hesitation and with mutual confidence
that the two great mechansms will fit and
Post.