The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-09-26
THE NEW SPIRIT"
SPIRIT OF TODAY
(Contributed)

! ne new SplIll VI loudNt bOI IL VI
a great world struggle Of the past
few years, is the spirit of construct
i've progress, a spirit that impels
building for the future on the
mighty achievements of the past.
The opportunity for this is greater
today than at any time in the his
tory of our nation. The great
world-mind is determined to miss
no opportunity to bring out of the
seeming mistakes of the past, the
agonies. the misunderstanding as
expressed in unrequited toll, under
nourished children and overworked
women, which have been but rungs
in the ladder by which we have
climbed in evolution, a closer rela-
tionship between those who labor
and those who pay the hire and so
change the present system into one
of greater equity, justice and CO.
operation.
Our city has stood well to the
front in all her war activities
never has she Jagged or faltered; ;
never hesitated to give her noblest
and best, and now that the turmoil
of war is over and we are again set
Ting down to peaceful equilibrium
we find we cannot take up the
threads just where they were brok-
en- off. Other threads have entered
into the fabric of daily toll and
life.
The lofty ideals begotten in the
very throes of war have waited on
our season of sorrow and mourn
ing and restoration to equilibrium
now beckons us to action. Ideals,
like individuals, are born in suf-
fering and travail and they grow
into manhood only as they are ex-
pressed by the life of the people
who have seen the form of better
things in the vision they offer.
Ideals in fancy do not lift the
world-ideals must be lived out.
built in; they must take on them
flesh and blood and life and they
must become animate, pulsing with
action. For the employer it means
less Of self, more thou ghtfulness for
those who have helped to accumu-
late the wealth which makes life
easier for him, and takes away from
him the fear of sickness and the
dread of coming old age; less of
gathering in and more of giving.
For those who toll, men and wom-
en-, it means better hours, more
equitable remuneration, more eff
cheney and service, because eff
cheney and service depend upon the
living conditions of the employee.
Today is the day for the Mer-
chants to come closer to their en-
ployees and today is the day for the
employee to so act that all men
may see that he is DESTROYS to do
the right as he sees dit to be the
right. If both together could say
as did the great Lincoln, 81 cannot
always be right, but | can always
be true and strive to do the right
as God gives me the power to sec
the right; then would come &
greater understanding, bringin
peace instead of continued strife.
Understanding the others view.
point is sure to bring a closer re
lationship. At a recent wage con
ference a man with large laundr,
interests and incidentally vice
PRESIDENT of a cult that stand
strong for BROTHERHOOD. calle,
the attention Of the writer to
lever young woman who, in a yer
'loquent and forceful way had e1
PRESSED her opinions on the que,
ion under discussion. did vol
lotice that Miss D who spok
esterday?" The writer had nc
iced her-could not help doing S,
5 she gave one of the most logic
alks at the public hearing. well,
continued, she is a terrible az
ator. She gave me more troub.
lst year than all the rest of IT,
omen together. But, Mr.. j,
lie writer responded, its all
after of viewpoint You call he
agitator, and | call her an il
F~ent v'or'o" who toows how
express herself" Needless to say
the laundry gentleman turned sor.
rowfully away, for he had a great
opinion of his own opinion and
could not be moved because he
lacked understanding.
saturday night closing and a
cher minimum wage for women
two of the ideals built durin,
10 mast season of strife ,o,,e. -