The Washington times., 1919-12-02

| Asserted rights of labor to coll |
lective bargaining and held that |
individual right to strike is invio- |
late.
for example. by the laws Of the Stale
Of New Jersey. which limit the time
during which goods may be kept In
storage, prescribe the method of dis
posing of them IL kept beyond the
permitted period, and require thai
goods released from storage shall in
all cases bear the date of their re
ceipt. 1t would materially add to the
serviceability of the law, for the pur-
pose we now have in view. IL 1t were
also prescribed that all goods re-
leased from storage for interstate
shipment should have plainly marked
upon each package the selling or
market price at which they went into
storage. By this means the purcha ser
would always be able to learn what
profits stood between him and the
producer or the wholesale dealer
i would also renew my recommen-
dation that all goods destined for in
terstate commerce should in every
case, where their form or package
makes it possible, be plainly marked
with the price at which they left the
hands of the producer.
We should formulate a law reauir-
ing a Federal license of all corpora
tions engaged in interstate commerce
and embodying in the license, or in
the conditions under which it is to be
issued, specific regulations designed
to secure competitive selling and pre-
vent uncomfortable profits in the
method OF marketing. Such a law
would AFFORD a welcome opportunity
to effect other much needed reforms
In the business of interstate shipment
and in the methods OF corporations
which are engaged in it; but for the
moment 1 confine my recommended
tions to the object Immediately in
hand, which is TO lower the cost of
living.
Labor Situation Important.
No one who has observed the march
OF events in the last year can fail to
note the absolute need of a definite
.program to bring about an improve
ment in the conditions of labor.
There can be no settled conditions
leading to increased production and a
reduction in the cost OF living IL labor
and capital are TO be antagonists in
stead OF partners. Sound thinking
terests OF tho whole nation, as distin-
guished from the interests OF a class,
must be applied to the solution of
THIS Great and pressing problem. The
faiiure OF other nations to consider
this matter in a vigorous way has
produced bitterness and jealousies a nd
antagonisms, the food of radicalism.
The only way to keep men from agi-
tating against grievances is to re-
move the grievances. An unwilling
ness even to discuss these matters
produces only dissatisfaction and
gives comfort to the extreme element.
in our country which endeavor to stir
up disturbances in order to provoke
governments to embark upon a course
or retaliation and repression The
seed OF revolution is repression. The
remedX for these things must not be
negative in character. 1t must be
constructive. 1t must comprehend the
general interest. The real antidote
for the unrest which manifests itself
is not suppression, but a deep consid-
eration OF the wrongs that beset our
national life and the application of a
remedy.
Congress has already shown its
Willingness TO deal with these indus
trial wrongs by establishing the eight
hour day as the standard in every
field OF labor. 1t has sought to find
way to prevent child labor. 1t has
served the whole country by leading
the way in developing the means of
preserving and safeguarding the lives
and health in dangerous Industries. II
must now help in the difficult task of
finding a method that will bring about
a genuine characterization of Industry.
based upon the full recognition of the
s--N.s
right OF those who work, in whatever
rank, to participate in some organic
way in every decision which directly
affects their welfare. 1t is with this
purpose in mind that I called a con
ference TO meet in Washington on De-
cember 1. to consider these problems
in all their broad aspects, with the
idea Of bringing about a better un-
derstandins between these two in
terests.
Must Put Our House in Order.
The great unrest throughout the
world, out OF which has emerged
a demand for an immediate considera-
ton of the difficulties between CAP
ital and labor, bids US put our own
house in order. Frankly, there can
be no permanent and lasting settle
ments between capital and labor
which do not recognize the fundamen-
tai concepts for which labor has been
struggling through the years. The
whole world gave its recognition and
Endorsement to these fundamental
purposes in the League of Nations
The statesmen gathered at Versailles
recognized the fact that world sta
bility could not be had by reyerting
to industrial standards and conditions
against which the average workman
of the world had revolted. 1t is, there
fore, the task OF the statesmen of this
new day Of change and readjustment
to recognize world conditions and to
seek to bring about, through legis-
lation. conditions that will mean the
ending of age-long antagonisms be-
tween capital and labor and that will
hopefully lead to the building up of
a comradeship which will result not
only in greater contentment among
the mass of workmen but also bring
about greater production