Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-05-23

pone longer the provisions which must
be made for the support of the gov
ernment Many Of the appropriations
which are absolutely necessary for the
maintenance of the government and
the fulfillment of it's varied obligations
for the fiscal year 1919-1920 have not
been made; the end of the present
fiscal year is at hand, and action upon
these appropriations can no longer
be prudently delayed. 1t is necessary
therefore, that should Immediately
call your attention to this critical need.
1t is hardly necessary for me to urge
that it may receive your prompt atten-
ton.
"I shall take the liberty Of address
ing you on my return on the subjects
which have most engrossed our at
tention and the attention of the world
during these last anxious months,
since the armistice of last November
was signed, the international settle
ments which must form the subject
matter of the present treaties Of peace
and of our national action in the i'm
mediate future. 1t would be prema-
ture to discuss them or to express a
Judgment about them before they are
brought to their complete formulation
by the agreements which are now be-
ing sought at the table of the confer
ence. l shall hope to lay them before
you in their many aspects so soon as
arrangements have been reached.
l hesitate to venture any opinion or
press any recommendation with re-
gard to domestic legislation while alb
sent from the United States and out
of daily touch with intimate sources
of information and counsel. l am
conscious that need, after so long an
absence from Washington, to seek the
advice of those who have remained in
constant contact with domestic prob
lens and who have known them. close
at hand from day to day, and l trust
that it will very soon be possible for
me to do so. But there are several
questions pressing for consideration
to which 1 feel that 1 may, and indeed
must even now direct your attention.
if only in general terms. In speaking
of them 1 shall. dare say, be doing
little more than speak your own
thoughts. l hope / shall speak your
own judgment also.
Question of Labor.
The question which stands at the
front of all others in every country
amidst the present great awakening is
the question Of labor, and perhaps I
can speak Of it with as great advant-
age while engrossed in the considera-
ton of interest which affect all coun-
tries alike as 1 could at home and
amidst the interests which naturally
most affect my thought, because they
are the interests Of my own people.
By the question of labor l do not
mean the question of efficient indus
trial production, the question Of how
labor is to be obtained and made ef-
fective in the great process Of sustain
ing populations and winning success
amidst commercial and industrial riv-
alries. I mean that much greater and
more vital question, how are the men
and women who do the daily labor of
the world to obtain progressive i'm
provement in the condition Of their
labor, to be made happier and to be
served better by the communities ami
the industries which their labor sus-
tains apd.adyances;-.HQy aeesthey to
be giyen &hs3E giSht adVantage as CIT
liens and human beings?
UT@ ~ ~ I'm RI hap
present direction. We have already
gone too far. We can not live our
right life as a nation or achieve our
proper success as an industrial COM
munity if capital and labor are to con-
tinue to be antagonistic instead of be-
ing partners. If they are to continue
to distrust one another and contriVe
how they can get the better of one an
other; or, what perhaps amounts TO
the same thing, calculate by what
form and degree of coercion they can
manage to eXtort on the one hand
work enough to make enterprise prof.
table, on the other justice and fair
treatment enough to make life tolera-
BILE. That bad road has turned out
blind alley. 1t Is no thoroughfare TO
real prosperity. We must find anoth-
er, leading in another direction and TO
a
lead, not merely to accommodation,
but also to a genuine cooperation and
partnership based upon a real COM
munity Of interest and participation in
control.
There is now, in fact, real COM
munity of interest between capital and
labor, but it has never been made evil
dent in action. 1t can be made opera
tive and manifest only in new organ
ization of industry. The genius Of our
business men and the sound practical
sense of our workers can certainly
work such partnership out When
once they realize exactly what II is
that they seek and sincerely adopt
common purpose with regard TO IL.
Chiefly With the States.
Labor legislation lies, of course
chiefly with the states, but the
new spirit and method Of organization
which must be effected are not to be
brought about by legislation so much
as by the common counsel and volun-
tary corporation of capitalist, mana
ger and workman. Legislation can go
only a very little way in commanding
what shall be done. The organization
of industry is a matter OF corporate
and individual initiative and or pracu-
cal business ARRANGEMENT. Those who
really desire a new relationship pc
tween capital and labor can readily
find a way to bring it about; and per-
haps Federal legislation can help
more than state legislation could.
The object of all reform in this es-
sential matter must be the genuine
democratization of industry, based up.
on a full recognition of the right OF
those who work, in whatever rank to
participate in some organic way In ev-
ery decision which directly affects their
welfare or the part they are to play
in industry. Some positive Legislation
is practicable. The congress has al
ready shown the way to one reform
which should be worldwide, by estab-
fishing the eight-hour dav as the
standard day in every field of labor
over which it can. ever exercise control.
1t sought to find the way to prevent
child labor, and will, I hope and be,
lieve, presently find it. 1t has served
the whole country by leading the way
in developing the means of preserving
and safeguarding life and health IN
dangerous industries. 1t can now help
in the difficult task Of giving new
form and spirit to industrial organlza-
n ".