The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-09-09
ST PAUL. Sept o--Pre,ident Wi.

ST. PAUL, Sept 9--President vii
son spoke in part as follows:
Until the industrial world is put
on its feet you cannot finally handle
the question OF the cost Of living. be-
cause the cost of living in the last
analysis depends upon the thing we
are always talking about but do not
know how to manage, the law OF sup
ply and demand.
I'VE have got TO see that our own
production and our own methods OF
finance and our own commerce are
quickened IN every way possible, and
then we. sitting in legislatures like
tins and in the congress of the United
States, have 10 see TO IT, ii YOU will
permit a vulgar expression, that no
ono monkeys with the machinery.
1--WE might as well sit up stralgh,
and look facts IN the face, gentlemen.
The laboring men OF the world are
not satisfied with their relations with
their employers. OF course. | do not
mean to say that dissatisfaction IS
universal dissatisfaction, because there
arc situations in many instances OF
satisfaction, but | am now speaking
Of the general relations between capt
tai and labor Everywhere there Is
dissatisfaction, much more on the
other side OF the water than on this
side
"Onc point | wish to make i, that
the world is looking to America TO
set the standards with regard to the
conditions OF labor or the relations
between capital and labor, and It IS
looking TO us because we have been
more progressive IN those matters
We have got TO have a constructive
program with regard 10 labor, and a
method by which we will relieve the
strain OF what you can call the cost
Of living
Il am not dogmatic about this mat
ter. can't presume that know how
II should be done. know the prln-
cipc upon which Il should be done.
The principle is that the interest ct
capital and the interest OF labor are
not different. but are the same.
"Nou can't any longer regard labor
as commodity. You have got to
regard 1t as means Of association,
and when that is done the production
OF the world IS going 10 80 forward
by leaps and bounds.
"Nhy is it that labor organizations
seriously limit the amount OF work
they have in hand to do, II is be.
cause they are driving hard bargains,
They don't feel that they are your
partners at all And so long as labor
and capital are antagonistic, ptoduc-
tlon is going TO be at its minimum.
Just as soon as they are sympathetic
and cooperative, il is going 10 bound
and that will be one Of the means OF
bringing down the cost OF living.
America, though we do not like to
admit It, has been very provincial in
regard 70 the worlds business When
We had to engage in banking trans
actiops outside OF the United States,
We generally did it through English
banks or more often through German
! bankers and here, all OF q sudden---of
sudden, we are called upon TO han
die the bulk OF international exchange.
We have to learn it and we have to
learn it fast
I'VE have got TO have American in
strumentalities in every part OF the
world. II you want to trade, you have
ITO have somebody to trade with.
ave have got to play our part, and
we have got to play il either as board
OF directors or as outside spectators,
We can play It inside or on the curb,
and you know how inconvenient il i,
to play IT on the curb.
Everywhere have been on this