The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-01-03
WHAT IS TALKED ABOUT
IN THE NATIONS CAPITAL
The Effect of Government Interven-
tion-An English Woman on Gov
ernment Ownership

The unity of pupose that inspired
labor and capital in war time consti-
tuted one of the finest exhibitions of
loyalty that has ever been born of
democracy. Now that the war is all
over but the shouting, complicated
questions are rising out of the insis-
tence by various interests that condi-
tions be recognized as permanent
which were clearly adopted to meet
war emergencies. The people of the
country expect prices to fall, but it is
hardly tribute to human nature to
observe that most producers want the
reductions to descend on some other
than themselves. In these columns
we have considered that affairs of the
munition manufacturers, the steel in
terests, public utilities, shipping, ETC.,
and so we will turn leaf in the story
and take into account the problem of
labor considered in connection with
the policies adopted by the govern
ment.
Under date of January 18, 1918, the
director general of railroads appointed
a railway wage commission, and act
ing upon their recommendation the
recognition of the basic eight hour
day followed, and a general advance
of wages was approved, amounting
in some cases to 43 per cent, and this
increase was made retroactive to Jan.
1, 1918. By further orders the wages
of all persins employed in the service
under the railroad administration
were advanced. Mr.. McAdoo, in pro-
mitigating his order, declared that
further steps would be employed in
order to do practical justice to the
100000 railroad employees of the
country" To this he added the "earn-
est hope that railroad officials and
railroad employees will realize that
their relations under federal govern
ment control are not based upon the
old conditions of private management.
The federal trade commission esti-
mates that 20,000,O00 people became
engaged in war work. Practically all
of them, outside of railroad, express
and wire employment, are now shift
ing for themselves; readiusting their
own affairs.
An English Woman's Reasoning
1t is rather hard to find better logic
than that supplied in the views of
Miss Christabel Pankhurst relative to
the economic conditions of the world.
This clever woman, whose views with
regard to suffrage for her sex, made
her world-famous, has given her time
and mind to the cause of democracy
for more than four years, and among
the worlds ills of which she COM
plains is the mania for so-called "dem-
ocratic control of industry" She
voices the fundamental proposition
that only thru increased production
can living conditions be adequately
bettered. The restriction of pre-war
trade union conditions and workshop
practices, with their restriction of
production, she says, "will destroy the
possibility of realizing the great aim
of securing to the mass of the people
the comforts, refinements and luxur-
les as yet enjoyed only by the few"
The so-called democratic control of
industry" she says, "means muddle,
delay, confusion, divided counsels,
stagnation and retrogression-the
production of commodities will fall
instead of rising, poverty will increase
and the standard of living will fall to
its lowest point. Only grown-up chill
dren, exploited by those who know
perfectly well what they are doing,
would make this demand that exists
in some quarters for control of in
dustry."
These English problems appear
quite like our own, and Miss Pank-
HuTSI 10 tiIlpIldtiC III tne Dcilc1 tIdt
employers and employees can accom-
plish most for the general good by
thinking less about Control" organi-
zation," "unionism," and short days,
and by turning their attention instead
to increased production.
Organization" Becoming a Habit
Even with the dissolving war clouds
there is no let-up on the pressure
being brought upon Washington to
recognize labor in organized groups
wherever the interests of enterprises
or industries. can be made to appear
as being connected with the conduit of
public business. Thus it appears that
railway employees, telegraph, telephone
and express employees have already ac-
quired the habit of making bee-line
for Uncle Sam to settle all of their
wage controversies. This same condi-
ton existed with reference to all of
the different lines of employment
connected with war work up to the