Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-25
THE PUBLIC STICKS

There is something suggestive in the fact that not,
withstanding the withdrawal from the Industrial confer
ence. first of the section representing labor and then the
section representing capital. the group representing the
public remains to make a further attempt to find a solu-
ton for some of the country's pressing industrial prob
lens. The differences are in accord with those often OBJ
served in the country at larger Capital may lock it's doors,
labor my lie down in the harness, but the public remains
on the job. ~
The public is always on the job. 1t. must be. There
IS no escape for 1t. Regardless OF its own inclinations it
must pursue the activities of life. Must have food to eat,
clothing to wear, fuel to burn, roofs to shelter it. 1t knows
no slx-hour day, and no five-day week. 1t does not even
observe the Sabbath or the public holidays in SO far as its
needs are concerned. The breath of life must be main
tanned in its body and all the time. 365 days in every
year, and "a hours in every day, it is consuming goods.
When we get right to the root of things it is the pub
lie which has the greatest interest in every controversy
which affects production. 1t is vital to the public that
production shall continue and it is vital to it, therefore,
that conditions which will make for production shall pre-
vail. The public must assure itself that capital will re-
cetve a fair return for its use in the industries, for with
out capital there can be no continuing industry and with
out q fair return there will be no capital available. The
public must assure Itself that labor shall receive the due
reward OF its efforts, for without labor effectively em-
pioyeo and suitably rewarded there can be no production.
Capital has it's special interest in one feature of the case.
Labor has its special interest in another. The interest Of
the public is broad, deep, general, and all-prcvailing.
Industrial problems are often approached from the
wrong angle. We approach them from the angle Of cap
ital with the view merely to providing profitable invest
ment. We approach them from the angle Of labor with
a view OF obtaining for the laboring man more wages or
shorter hours, or we may have in mind a division Of ben
etits between capital and labor so that both will be salts
fled. But any attempt at solution which ignores or neg.
lects the essential fact that the public is the party with
the greatest interest at stake, and that the whole process
OF production by whatever agencies may be employed is
merely q service to the public is sure to fail. We need to
have the interest of the public more strongly emphasized,
and have it understood that the public welfare is the first
and foremost thing to be considered. and that anything
The vital feature of, the railroad problem is not the
wages Of the man employed or the dividends to be earn
ed on capital. 1t is the manner in which the needs of the
PUBIC may best be served by our transportation system.
Thousands Of coal miners threatened to strike at the out
set OF q long winter because they and their employers
have failed. to agree on certain laboring conditions. The
comfort, the very life, Of millions Of people depend on
the mining OF coal in those mines which a strike will close
Some day, perhaps now. certainly before very long. such
a thing will be impossible. The public will cause 1t to be
understood beyond possibility OF doubt that when it needs
coal the mines will be operated. SO it is with every great
industry. It will be considered intolerable that produc.
ton will cease because Of . disagreement between parties
Of lesser interest. 1t will be accepted as an axiom that the
public need must be served. ana every attempt at adjust
nnent will be made in full acceptance and recognition Of
that fact.
Ltndbsrg1 wasn't ct the Townley meeting in Fargo