Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-05-31


has turned out a blind alley. It IS
no thoroughfare to real prosperity.
We must find another, leading In an
other dlrectio. and TO q very differ
ent destination. It must lead not
merely to accommodation but also to a
genuine cooperation and partnership
based upon real community Of inter-
est and participation in control.
Labor legislation lies, of course.
chiefly with the states; but the new
spirit and method of organization
which must be effected are not to be
brought by legislation so much as by
the common counsel and voluntary
cooperation OF capitalist, manager,
and workman. Legislation can go only
a very little way in recommending what
shall be done. The organization Of in
dustry is matter of corporate and
individual initiative and of practical
business arrangement. Those who
really desire new relationship be-
tween capital and labor can readily
find a way to bring 1t about and per-
haps federal legislation can help more
than state legislation could.
Industrial Demonstration.
"The object of all reform in this
essential matter must be the genuine
characterization of industry, based
upon 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 on the part they are to
play in industry. Some positive leg
islation is practicable. The congress
has already shown the way to one re-
form which should be worldwide, by
establishing the elght-hour day as the
standard day in every field of labor
over which 1t can exercise control. 1t
has sought to find the way to prevent
child labor, and will, hope and be-
lieye, presently find 1t. 1t has served
the whole country by leading the way
in developing the means of preserv-
ing and safeguarding life and health
in dangerous industries. The mem
bers of the committee on labor in the
two houses hardly need suggestions
from me as to what means they shall
seek to make the federal government
the agent Of the whole nation in point
ing out, and if need be, guiding the
process of reorganization and reform.
Duty to Returning Soldiers.
81 am sure that it is not necessary
for me to remind that there is one
immediate and very practical question
Of labor that we should meet in the
most liberal spirit. We must see to 1t
that our returning soldiers are assist
ed in every practicable way to find
the places for which they are fitted in
the daily work of this country. This
can be done by developing and main
tanning upon ar adequate scale the adj
morable organization created by the
department Of labor for placing men
seeking work. and 1t can also be done.
in at least one very great field, by Gre
ating new opportunities for Individual
enterprise. The secretary Of the in
terror has pointed out the way by
which returning soldiers may be helped
to find and take up land in the hlther-
to undevelOped regions Of the country
which the federal government has al
ready prepared or can readily prepare
for cultivation, and also on many of
the cutover or neglected areas which
lie within the limits of the older
states; and once more take the lib
erty Of recommending very urgently
that his plan shall receive the immedi-
ate and substantial support of the con-
gress.