The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-02

ing about better understanding between
these two interests.
The great unrest thruout the world out
of which has emerged a demand for an
immediate consideration of the difficulties
between capital and labor. bids us put our
own % house In order. Frankly there can
between capital and labor which do not
recognize the fundamental concepts for
which labor hns been struggling thruout
the years. The whole world gave its
recognition and endorsement to theseN fund
amental purposes In the League of Nations.
The statesmen gathered ut Versailles
recognized the faet that world stability
could not be had by reverting TO indus
trial standards and conditions against
had reyolted. 1t is therefore the task
of statesmen of this new day of change
and readjustment to recognize world con-
ditions and to seek to bring about thru
legislation, conditions that will mean the
ending of age-long antagonisms between
capital and labor and that Will hopefully
lead the building up of comradeship which
VIII result not only in greater contentment
among the mass Of workmen but also bring
about greater production and a greater
prosperity to business itself.
To analyze the particulars in the de-
mands OF labor Is TO admit the justice of
at their basis. The workman demands an
adequate wage. sufficient to permit him to
live In comfort. unhampered by the fear
Of poverty and want in his old age. He
demands the right to live and the right
to work amidst sanitary surroundings both
in home and in workshop, surroundings
that develop and do not retarA his own
health and well-being: and TIE right to
provide for his children's v6nts in the
matter OF health and education In other
ditions of his life and the lives of those
dear to him tolerable and easy to bear.
The establishment of the principles regard
ing labor laid down in the covenant of the
League of Nations offers us the way to
industrial peace and cancellations. No
other road lies open to u.s. Not TO pursue
this one is longer to invite enmities. bit
terness and antagonisms which in the end
only lead to industrial and; social disas-
ter: The unwilling workman is not prof
liable servant An employe whose indus
trial life is hedged about by hard and uu-
just conditions which he did not create and
over which he has no control. lncks that
fine spirit of enthusiasm and voluntary
effort which are the necessary ingredients
Of great producing entity; Let us be
frank about this solemn matter. The evil
dences of worldwide unrest which mani
fest themselves in violence turnout the
to be found TO stop the spread of this con-
tagious thing before it saps the very vital
ity of the nation itself
Do we gain strength by withholding the
remedy? Or is 1t not the business of
statesmen to treat these manifestations of
unrest which meet us on every hand as
apply constructive remedies wherever
necessary. being sure that in the applica l.
ton of the remedy we touch not the vital
tissues of our Industrial and economic life ?
There can be no recession of the tide of
unrest until constructive instrumentalities
are set up to stem that tide.
Governments must recognize the rights
of men collectively to bargain for humane
objects that have at their base the mutual
protection and welfare of those engaged in
all industries. Labor must not be longer
treated as a commodity. 1t must be re-
garded the activity of human beings
possessed Of deep yearnings and desires.
The business man gives his best thought
to the repair and replenishment of his
machinery so that its usefulness will not
be impaired and Its power to produce may
always be at its height and kept in full
yigor and motion. No less regard ought to
be paid to the human machine which
after all propels the machinery Of the world
and is the great dynamic force that lies
back Of all industry and progress Return
to the old standards of labor and wages in