Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-05-20

they can get the better OF one
another. Or. what perhaps
amounts to the same thing, cal
culate by what form and de-
gree OF coercion they can man
age TO extort on the one hand
work enough to make enter
prise profitable on the other
Justice and fair treatment
enough to make life tolerable,
That bad road has turned out a
blind alley. 1t is no thorough
fare TO real prosperity. We
must find another, leading in
another direction and to very
different destination. 1t must
lead not merely to accommoda-
ton, but also to a genuine Co
operation and partnership bas-
ed upon a real community of
interests and participation in
control.
There is now in fact a real
community of interest between
capital and labor but 1T has
never been made evident in ac-
tion. 1t can be made operative
and manifest only in a new or
ganiZation 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
it is that they seek and sincere
ly adopt a common purpose.
with regard to il.
Need More Than Legislation.
Labor legislation lies, or
course, chiefly with the states,
but the new spirit and method
of organization which must be
effected and are not to be
brought about by legislation so
much as by the common coun-
sci and voluntary cooperation
of capitalist. manager and
workmen. Legislation can go
only a very little way in CONF
manding what shall be done.
The organization of industry is
a matter of corporate and in
dividual initiative and of prac-
tical business arrangement.
Those who really desire a new
relationship between capital
and labor can radily tind way
to bring it about and perhaps
federal legislation can help
more than state legislation
could.
Must Democratic Industry.
The object of all reform in
this essential matter must be
the genuine democratization or
industry based upon a full rec
ognition of the right of those
who work, in whatever rank, to
participate in some organic way
in every decision which direct
ly affects their welfare of the
part that they are to play in
industry. Some positive legisla-
ton is practicable. The con-
gress has already shown the
way to one reform which should
be world wide by establishing
the eight-hour day as the stand
ard day in every field of labor
over which 1t can exercise con-
troll. II has sought to find the
way to prevent child labor, and
will. | hope and believe, spres-
emily find it. II has served the
whole country by leading the
way in developing the means of
preserving and safeguarding
life and health in dangerous in
dustries. 1t can now help in the
difficult task of giving a new
form and spirit to industrial or
ganization by coordinating the
several agences of concilliation
and adjustment which have
been brought into existence by
the difficulties and mistaken
policies of the present manage
ment of industry and by setting
up and developing new federal
agencies of advice and informa-
tion which may serve as a
clearing house for the best ex-
periments and the best thought
on this great matter, upon
which every thinking man must
be aware that the future devel-
opment Of society directly de-
pends. Agencies of international
counsel and suggestion are
presently to be created in con-
nection with the league of ma
tions in this very field; but il is
national action and the enlight-
~