Republican farmer., 1919-12-05

 | day as the standard in every field of uabor. It has sought to Sind q way to prevent child labor. It has served the whole country by leading the way in developing the means of preserving 1 and safeguarding the lives and health 1 in dangerous industries. It must now ! help in the difficult task of finding 9, method that will bring about a gen. uine characterization of industry. based on the full recognition of the right of those who work, in whatever rank, to participate in some organic way in every decision which directly ] affects their welfare. It is with this ; purpose in mond that I called a con- ference to meet in Washington on December 1 to consider these prob- lens in all their broad aspects, with the idea of bringing about better understanding between these two in terests.
 The great unrest throughout the world out of which has emerged a demand for an immediate considera- i tiCn of the difficulties between capi- i tai and labor bids us put our own i house in order. Frankly there can be ! no permanent and lasting settle ments between capital and labor i which do not recognize the funda- mental concepts for which labor has
  1 The whole world gave it's recognition and endorsement to these fundamen' : tai purposes in the League of Nations. : The statesmen gathered at Versailles recognized the fact that world stabil- ] ity could not be had by reverting to i industrial standards and conditions 1 against which the ge workman ! of the world had revolted.
 1 It is, therefore, the task of the l statesmen of this new day of change 1 and readjustment to recognize world conditions that will mean the ending i of age-lOng antagonisnls between cap itaI and labor and tnat will hopefully ! lead to the building up of comrade- ship which will result not only in | greater contentment among the mass i of workmen but also bring about a l greater production and greater pros perity to business itself.
 i To anaiize the particulars in the de- ] mands of labor is to admit the justice i of their complaint in many matters i that lie at their basis The workman 1 demands an adequate wage, sufficient i to permit him to live in comfort un- l hampered by the fear of poverty and want in his old age. He demands l the right to live and the right to work i amidst sanitary surroundings, both in 1 nome ana WOTkSHOp. SurrOun0lnSS l that develop and do not retard his i own health and well being; and the i right to provide for his chidren's wants in the matter of health and : education. In other words, it is his desire to make the conditions of his . life and the lives of those dear to him tolerable and easy to bear.
 The establishment of the principles regarding labor laid down in the covenant of the League of Nations offers us the way to industrial peace and conciliation. No other road lies i open to us. Not to pursue this one is longer to invite enmities, bitter ness and antagonisms which in the end only lead to industrial and social disaster. The unwilling workman is not a profita bIe servant. An employe whose industrial life is hedsed about by hard and unjust conditions, which he did not create and over which he has no control lacks that fine spirit of enthusiasm and volunteer effort which are the necessary ingredients of great producing entity.
 Let us be frank about this solemn matter. The evidences of worldwide unrest which manifest themselves in violence throughout the world bid us pause and consider the means to be found to stop the spread of this con tagious thing before it saps the very vitality of the nation itself. Do we gain strength by withholding the remedy or is it not the business of statesmen to treat these manifesto tions of unrest which meet us on every hand as evidences of an eco homie disorder and to apply con- structive remedies wherever neces- sary, being sure that in the appHca- of ba n the vital tissues of our industrial and i economic life? there can be no re-
 cession of the tide of unrest until 1 constructive Instrumentalities are set up to stem that tide.
 Governments must recognize the right of men collectively to bargain for humane objects that have at their base the mutual protection and wei fare of those engaged in all indus tries. Labor must not be longer treat ed a commodity. It must be re- garded as the activity of human be- ings, possessed of deep yearnfngs and desires. The business man gives his best thought to the repair and replen- ishment of his machinery, so that it's usefulness will not be impaired and it's power to produce may always be at its height and kept in motion. No less regard ought to be paid to the l pels the machinery of the world and is the great dynamic force that lies back of all industry and progress
 Return to the old standards of wage and industry in employment are unthinkabIe The terrible tragedy of war which has just ended and which has brought the world to the verge of chaos and disaster would be in vain if there should ensue return 70 the conditions of rne past. Flu rope, itself, whence has come the un
 rest which now holds the world at bay is an example of standpatism in ! these vital human matters which America might well accept as an ex- ample not to be followed but studl~
 ously to be averted.
 Europe made labor the differential, and the price of it all is enmity and iantagonism and prostrated industry. The right of labor to live in peace and comfort must be recognized by gov ernments and America should be the first to lay the foundation stones up- on which industrial peace shall be built.
 Labor not only is entitled to an