Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1919-05-22
Gentlemen Of the Congress:

to the Congress, cabled from Paris:
Eertlemen Of the Congress:
deeply regret my inability to be
present OF the opening Of the extraor
binary session Of the congress. II
still seems to be my duty to take part
in the counsels of the peace confer
ence and contribute what l can to
the solution OF the innumerable Ques-
tons to whose settlement it has had
TO address itself. For they are ques-
tons which affect the peace Of the
whole world and from them. therefore,
the United States can not stand apart.
L deemed it my duty to call the con-
gross together at this time because it
was not wise to postpone longer the
provisions which must be made for
the support of the government.
l shall take the liberty of address
ing you on my return on the subjects
which have most engrossed our atten-
tion and the attention of the world
during the last anxious months, since
the armistice Of last November was
signed. I shall hope to lay them be-
fore you in their many aspects as
soon as arrangements have been
reached.
I hesitate to venture any opinion or
express any recommendation with re-
gard to domestic legislation while ab-
ha TIn; I'D 4n+a
OF daily touch with intimate sources OF
information ard counsel. l trust that
it will very soon be possible for me to
do so. But there are several ques-
tions pressing for consideration to
which feel that I may, and indeed
must, even now direct your attention,
II only in general terms In speaking
OF them shall, dare say, be doing
little more than speaking your own
thoughts. hope that ! shall speak
your own judgment also.
The question which at the front OF
all others, in every country amidst the
present great awakening is the ques-
tion of labor.
BY the question Of labor I mean
that great and vital question, how are
the men and women who do the daily
labor of the world to obtain progress
i've Improvement in the conditions of
their labor, to be made happier, and
to be served better by the communi-
ties and the industries which their
labor sustains and advances How
are they to be given their right advan-
tage as citizens and human beings?
We can rot go any further in our
present direction. We have already
gone too far. We can not live our
right life as 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. That bad road has turn
ed out a blind alley. 1t is no thor
oughfare to real prosperity. We must
find another road leading in another
direction and to a very different des-
tination. 1t must lead not merely to
accommodation, but also to a genuine
cc.opcration and partnership based up
on real community Of interest and
participation in control.
There is now in fact real commun-
ity Of interest between capital and la
Dor, but it has never been made evil
dent in action. 1t can be made opera
tive and manifest only in a new or
ganization OF industry. The genius of
our business men and the sound prac-
tical sense Of orr workers can Ger
tainly work such a partnership out
when once they realize exactly what
lit Is that they seek and sincerely adopt
II common purpose with regard to it.
The object Of all reform in this es-
Isential matter must be the genuine
Decentralization of industry, based
upon full recognition of the right
lot those men who work in whatever
frank, to participate in some organic
Eway In every decision which directly
laffects their welfare or the part they
Iare to play in industry. Some posi-
tive legislation is practicable. The /,
tcongTess has already shown the way
10 one reform which should be world =
wide. by establishing the eight.hour !,
day as tho standard day in every Aeld
TOT labor over which it can exercise
control.
It has sought to find the way to
prevent child labor, and will, / hope,
snnd believe, presently and 1t. It has
served the whole country by leading
the way in developing the means Of
preserving and safeguarding life and
heath In dangerous industries.
! an sure that it is not necessary
for mo to remind you that there is
lone inmediate and very practical |
question Ct labor that we should meet
IN tic most liberal spirit We must
see 70 II that our returning soldiers
are sSsisted in every practicable way
III ma the places for which they are
httca n tic daily work OF the country.
Tris can 10 done By developing and |
maintaining upon an sdeduate seals
Ia admirable organization created byi