Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-20

ger be prudently delayed. II is nee
essary therefore that | should imme
diately call your attention to this crit
ical need II is hardly necessary fol
me- Ia urge that it may receive youl
prompt attention.
l shall take the liberty of address
ing you on my return on the subjects
which have most engrossed our atten
tiun and the attention of the world
during these last anxious months
since the armistice of last November
was signed, the international settle
mems which must form the subject
matter of the present treaties of peace
and on our national action IN the in
mediate future.
Discussion Now Premature.
Ii would be premature 10 discuss
them on 10 express a judgment about
them before they are brought to their
complete formulation by the agree
lnents which are now being sought al
the table of the conference. | shall
nope To lay them before you in Their
many aspects SO soon as arrange
ments have been reached
hesitate to venture any opinlous
or press any recommendation with rp.
gard To domestic legislation while all.
sent from the United States and out Of
daily touch with intimate sources OF
Information and counsel am coli
scious that need, after so long m alb
senee from Washington, to seek tile
advice of those who have remained in
constant contact with domestic prob
lens and who have known them close
al hand from day to day, and trust
that il will very soon be possible TER
me to do so.
But there are several questions /
pressing for consideration 10 which / /
feel that | may and indeed must even
now direct your attention, ii 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
judgment also.
Labor Chief Question.
The question which st nds at the
front Of all others in every country
amidst the present great awakening
IS the question Of labor; and perhaps
J can speak of ii with as great adyan-
tase while engrossed in the consiG.i
GRAFTON of interest which affect al
countries alike is | could az home and
amidst the interests which NATURALLY
NOSE effect my thoughts, because they
are the interests of our own people.
BY the question of labor | do MOI
mean the question of efficient indus-
trial production, the question of how
labor is TO be obtained and made eli
feetiVe in the great process of sus- q
tanning populations and winning sue, e
cess amidst commercial and indus (
trial rivalries.
mean that much greater and more t
vital question. How are the men and $
women who do the daily labor of the y
world 10 obtain progressive improve B.
ment in the conditions of their labor. O
10 be made happier and to be served {
better by the communities and the in I
dustrles which their labor sustains and ri
advances How are they to be r
gwen their right advantage as Cit
zens and human beings?
we cannot go any further in our
present direction. We have already
gone too far. We cannot live our d
right lie as nation or achieve our
proper success as an industrial com.
nluhlty If capital and labor are to con v
tlnue to be antagonistic instead of
being partners. st
IL they are to continue to distrust -
one another and cOntrive how they "
can get the better of one another. or "
what perhaps amounts to the samaI ,
Lhlng, calculate by what form and a
iegree of coercion they can manage -,
10 extort on the one hand work enough 81
% make enterprise profitable on the a.
faf, |
enough to make life tolerable.
That bad road has turned ont a 60
blind alley, II is no thorougbfare ~,
o real prosperity We must find an IN
liheF leading in another direction so
ma 10 very different destination I'm
l must lead not merely to accommo II,
Idtlon put also to a genuine COOPER an
'tioh and partnership based upon u
cal community of interest and partic- he
patton in control. IN
Must Recognize Industry tn
There is now in effect a real com TO
nuhlty OF interest between capitai ~
M labor, but it has never been made 'E
Nldeht IN action. 1t can be made 'a
pefatlVe and manifest only in a new I'M
rganlzation of industry. The gepiu ga
| our business men and the soma nv
Facucal sense of our workers can Io
ertainiy work such a partnership out
men once they realize exactly what ~"
Is that they seek and sincerely adop IN
common purpose with regard to il nv
Labor legislation lies of cnnrsa me
hletly with the states. but the new io
plrit and method of organization no
hich must be effected are not TO be
rought by legislation so much SO by ~"
10 common counsel and voluntarily -
1-operation OF capitalist, manager and ~. ~,
ofkman. Legislation can 90 ONLY va
very little way in commanding what W.
lall be done. The organization of ",
dustry IS matter of cooperate and ,o o
dlYlHua' Initiative and of practical ~.
lSlIesS arrangement Those whol ass
any desire new relationship be. 70
cen capital and labor can readily
ld way to bring II about: and Der ne
Fps federal legislation can help more 4
an state Legislation could for
Inc object of all reform in this as. ligl
htlu matter must be the genuine res
'hocrau2ation of industry. based -ha
ION a full recognition OF the right Of ron
Use Wfo work, in whatever rank. We
participate IL some organic way In VIII
cry decision which directly affects gra
err welfare on the part they are to for