Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-31
Future for Labor

world is at stake on this Labor day, says DR..
John Mcdowell Of Baltimore, Md, on taking
Office as head of the newly created department
of social service of the Presbyterian New Era
Movement, in a message from the church to
labor, issued at Presbyterian headquarters. ls6
Fifth avenue, today.
DR.. Mcdowell urges that industrial democ-
racy stand for state of society where man
will get all he earns and earn all he gets He
gives labor full credit for winning the war; and
says that the big task confronting labor today
is that of democratizing industry. He pleads
that labor substitute faith for fear, and substi-
tute reason for force to bring about world
peace in all international and industrial rela-
tons. He invokes the spirit of justice and
brotherhood to make democracy safe for in
dustry People who rock the boat, he says,
must be stopped He blames existing chaos
upon the failure to look beyond industry as a
revenue-producing process.
The first note in the message of the church
to labor on this Labor day" says DR.. Mcdowell
us of gratitude for the indispensable service
it rendered during the, world war. No one who
knows the facts will ever question either the
quality or the quantity of labors share in max
ing the world safe for democracy On the field
and in the factory labor proved its un1inchng
loyalty to the cause of humanity by service
that knew no limits and by sacrifice that
never counted the cost -
"The vast majority of the eight millions of
men who laid down their lives that liberty
might not perish from the earth, were from
the ranks of labor 1t is not too much to say
that without the man who fought in the ranks
and the men and women who worked in the
factories the war could not have been won.
Society cannot exist without the worker.
The steady toll of the masses is factor that
cannot be ignored 1t is the basis of society
and civilization and makes possible literature.
science, art and philanthropy. In tracing the
causes. of social advance we cannot omit the
unremitting toll Of the nameless millions whose
labor and industry have built our republic, and
when we think of that long and honorable rec
ord since the dawn Of human history. we are
impressed anew with the dignity and worth Of
labor.
social service. In any conceivable future social
order the workers will be honored, more hon
ored than ever. In the kingdom of God service
is the test and measure Of greatness. Craft
tude fills the heart of all the lovers Of liberty
for the heroic service rendered by the workers
of the world during the past four years.
THE second note in the churchs message
to labor is one Of inspiration for its future
tasks. There are big problems just ahead of
labor, problems which will demand clear
thought, tireless energy, lmitless patience and
courageous faith The welfare of mankind, as
we'll as the future of America is wrapped up in
these problems
THE biggest task confronting labor just
now is that of democratizng industry The
war has broadened and deepened the demo-
cratic current in modern life. 1t has also helped
to demonstrate the unity underlying all human
relations. The problem of labor and capital is
no longer one which concerns only or even
mainly these two essential parties to produc-
ton. As never before, it is community prob
lem, national problem, international prob
lem. To speak of the old world and the new
world. says Owen Wister, is to speak dead
language. The world is one. All humanity is
in the same boat The passengers multiply but
the boat remains the same SIZE
"And people who rock the boat must be
stopped by force. America can no more sepa-
can escape the natural laws Of the universe.
| The labor problem of the twentieth century,
says w. L. Mckenzie King. is indeed the
problem Of industry and hurpanity. To COM
| prehend this truth adequately is necessary
! first step towards solution
| THE third note in the message of the church
| to labor is one Of appeal to bring about. a
world at peace, in all of its international and in
9ustria relations, by substituting faith for fear
| and reason for force. The democracy needed
in industry is something more than mere
form, it must be a real faith, with its roots in
God and>i man. Nothing short of an infusion
| of a new spirit. and that the spirit of justice
| and brotherhood, will make democracy safe for
industry and thus usher in industrial peace.
| Labor must never forget that the whole is
|
| rights superior to those of industry or even
| nationality
"In his address to congress on February II
| 1918 President Wilson said: What is at stake
now>is the peace of the world. What we are
striving for is new international order based
upon broad and universal principles Of. righ
and Justice
What is at stake now on this Labor day
September t. 1919, is the industrial peace o.
the world and what is needed is new indus
trial ordet based on the eternal principles o.
right and justice.
IF industrial democracy is to prove bless
ing to the world it must stand for state
society in which man will get all he earns
and earn all he gets, state of society il
which no man will live on the fruits of an
other mans labor, and no man will be denied
the fruits of his own labor
This is what industrial democracy means
when it is, true to the highest ideal, the Chris
tan ideal. If industrial democracy is to b,
true to the Christian ideal, the Christian churcl
must fill industrial democracy with the spiri
of Christ, teach industrial democracy the mine
of Christ, and inspire industrial democracy Il
do the work of Christ, and thus make good tn
prophets vision Of the time when man shall
be more precious than gold, even than tn
golden wedge of Ophir.'"
Brains Are ryNecessary
The falIacv in the whole plan of the "Bi