The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-17
INDUSTRIAL GOVERNMENT.

Each industrial stage evolves it's own form OF
government Hunting and fishing go with trl-
bal institutions. Grazing produces nomadlc
families loosely linked in rowing hordes Handl-
craft and serfdom were the foundation of guilds
feudalism and free cities within monarchies
Machine industry transformed these into rep
resentative democracy, says A. M. Simons.
Social upheavals come because new Industrial
wine breaks old governmental bottles.
We have in many ways to adapt trustified in
dustry to democracy. Industrial domination
through corruption gave rise to undertaking
and the reform movement Regulation gave us
a multitude of commissions volumes OF statutes,
clogged court calendars, vast expenses and much
friction.
Across this confusion came the struggle be-
tween employers and employees. Minimum wages,
child labor laws, factory legislation, housing and
injunctions were mixed with taxation education
and all the affairs of government.
Such a mix-up of industry and government was
bound to lead to a demand for consolidation. The
cult of naturalization of industry counts its ad
herents by millions.
War climaxed all this, multiplied regulation
and extended naturalization. Reaction came
against waste and bungling Labor wavered in
its belief in socialism unless governments were
industrialized.
The angle of approach has changed. The de-
mand is now that industry shall enter govern
ment rather than government industry. This
il not confined to the call for business methods"
1t insists that the machinery of industry be d.
rectly transplanted to government 1t would
have industrial representatives elected to legis-
lative bodies. 1t would set up, within industry
democratic institutions with governmental func-
tions.
Great Britain already has her '1abor-capital
Low
A national industrial parliament composed of
representatives of employers and employees
called by Lloyd-George made recommendations
that parliament accepted almost as orders
The multitude of boards commissions and
committees made up of representatives of cap
talists and workers functioned during the war
as semi-governmental organs. w. Jett Lauck.
secretary of the labor board, urges President
Wilson to call conference composed of the most
responsible representatives of both the en-
ployers and the workers, with men of the highest
calibre to represent the public" Such body
would constitute a third house" whose recon-
mendations congress would scarcely ignore.
There is everywhere a tendency to make use
of voluntary organizations in industry as agents
of government. Recprocally, industrial units
are coming to have place in governmental &C
ton. All this is but the adj justment of govern
ment to the industrial age.
The "lunatic fringe" of this movement takes
the form of sovietism. 1t would suddenly reverse
present society and make industry the state.
Legislatures would disappear and all laws be
made in the factory
English-speaking lands have chosen the other
road; and have moved far along it. Without
bloodshed, violence or disrupting social disorder
hey have gone years further in actual indus
trializing of the state and democratizing of in
iustry than the nations that try to organize in
iustry and government by riots and proclama-
ions.