The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-11

Of enthusiasm and volunteer effort
which are the necessary ingredients
of a great producing entity Let US
be frank about this solemn matter.
The evidences of world wide unrest
which manifest themselves in VIC
lence 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 rem
edy? Is it not the business of states
men to treat these manifestations Of
unrest which meet US on every hand
as evidences Of an economic disorder
and to apply constructive remedies
wherever necessary. being sure that
in the application Of the remedy we
touch not the vital tissues OF our in
dustriaI and economical life7 There
can be no recession OF the tide Of IN
rest until constructive instrumentaIi-
ties are set up to stem that tide.
No Longer a Commodity.
Governments must recognize the
right OF men collectively to bargain
for human objects that have at their
base the mutual protection and well
fare of those engaged in all indus
tries. Labor must not be longer treat
ed as a commodity. It must be re-
garded as the activity of human be
ings, possessed of deep yearnings and
desires The business man gives his
best thought to the repair and repIen-
ishment of his machinery, so that its
usefulness will not be impaired and
its power to produce may always be
at its height and kept in full Vigor
and motion No less regard ought to
be paid to the human machine, which,
after all, propels the machinery OF
the world and is the great dynamic
force that lies back of all industry
and progress. Return to the old stan
dards Of wage and industry in en-
ployment are unthinkable. The ter
rible tragedy of war which has just
ended and which has brought the
world to the verge of chaos and dis
aster would be in vain if there should
ensue a return to the conditions Of
the past
capitaT Also Has Claims.
THE right of individuals to strike
is inViolate and ought not to be in
terfered with by any process Of gov
eminent, but there is a predominant
right and that is the right Of the gov
eminent to protect all of its people
and to assert it's power and majesty
against the challenge of any class.
The government, when 1t asserts that
right, seeks not to antagonize a class
but simply to defend the right of the
whole people as against the irrepara-
BILE harm and injury that might be
done by the attempt by any class to
usurp power that only government
iOh fn
protection to all
A Peaceful Settlement Possible
In the matter of international dis
putes which have led to war, states
men have sought to set up as a rem
edy arbitration for war. Does this
not point the way for the settlement
of industrial disputes, by the estab-
of a tribunal, fair and just
alike to all, which will settle indus
trial disputes which in the past have
led to war and disaster? America,
witnessing the evil consequences
which have followed out Of such dis
putes between the contending forces,
must not admit itself impotent to
deal with these matters by means Of
peaceful processes. Surely, there
must be some method Of bringing to-
gether in a council Of peace and am
ity these two great interests, out Of
which viii come a happier day OF
peace and cooperation, a day that
will make for more comfort and hap
piness in living and a more tolerable
condition among all classes of men.
Certainly human intelligence can de-
wise some acceptable tribunal for adj
justing the differences between CAPT
tai and labor.
The Hour OF Trial.
This is the hour of test and trial
for America. By her prowess and
and the indomitable courage
of her soldiers, she demonstrated her
power to vindicate on foreign battle
fields her conception Of liberty and
justice. Let not her influence as a
mediator between capital and labor
be weakened and her own failure to
settle matters of purely domestic con-
Germ be proclaimed TO the world.
There are those in this country who
threaten direct action to force their
will upon a majority. Russia today,
with its blood and terror, is a pain
full object lesson of the power Of mi
norities 1t makes little difference
what minority it is; whether capital
or labor, or any class; no sort Of
privilege will ever be permitted to
dominate this country. We are a
partnership or nothing that is worth
while. We are a democracy, where
the majority are the masters, or all
the hopes and purposes of the men
who founded this government have
been defeated and forgotten.
I'm America there is only one way
by which great reforms can be accom-
piished and the relief sought by class
es obtained, and that is through the
orderly process Of representative gov
eminent Those who would propose
any other method of reform are
enemies of this country. America
will not be daunted by threats nor
lose her composure or calmness in
these distressing times. We can af-
ford, in the midst Of this day of passion
and unrest, to be self contained and
sure. The instrument of all reform
in America is the straight road OF
justice to all classes and conditions
of men. Men have only to follow
this road to realize the full fruitiOn
Of their objects and purposes. Let
those beware who would take the
shorter road Of disorder and revolu-
ton The right road is the road OF