New-York tribune., 1919-02-27
in Europe and the

also represented to see what can be
done through legislative methods.
The government places strong hopes
in this congress. If the new method
succeeds it will probably mean the
end of large strikes in England for q
considerable time. The idea of the
industrial legislature is growing rap
idly. The peace conferences commits
sion on international labor legislation
is planning such a congress for the
world. 1t is not unlike the idea given
birth to in America by Frank P.
Walsh's War Labor Board, wherein
both sides present their facts about
costs and abide by what the facts
show. What seems to be on the hori-
zos if the industrial congress plan
succeeds in gaining the confidence of
employees and employers is the fixing
of returns for all factors in industry
on the basis Of what each puts into
industry.
To Study Costs
The industrial congress will, it is
planned, name number of sub-com
missions to make expert analyses Of
industrial costs in various lines and
reporting the facts to an adjourned
meeting of the congress. Thus, for
the first time, every one will know
just what every element in industrial
life risks in industry and what it gets.
That such a procedure is leading
straight toward an abandonment Of
ent industrial order is not to be de-
MED. Whether this will prove for
good or evil is not to be predicted, the
main point being that the leaders of
English life believe that only through
some such process can the nation be
saved from chaos.
Modern civilization is interviewer
through industry and no nation can
remain entirely immune from the de
velopments in another nation. That
is why the question Of raw materials
enters so largely into every computa-
tlon OF the European industrial situa-
ton.
What is going on in the Central
Empires and adjacent territory, in the
Balkans and IN Russia can only be
surmised, but there is cause for the
worlds concern in the presence of
Bolshevism in Russia and the wave of
murder III Germany. What brings this
matter home to America, and especially
~ ~N'iNi van 4elDOis ID JIG letCL lluL All
routes lead to America when it comes
to the question of preserving the
worlds sanity and order. Without sta
blllty IN America there is small hope
OF recovery from war sickness.
Just before | left Paris to see once
more what the English industrial situ-
alton looked like | talked to two men
IN the American diplomatic service
who have seen good deal of Presi-
dent Wilson lately, and another man
snguiarly close to the world OF labor.
One of the diplomats said:
"CiviliZation could be broken down
beyond recognition within six weeks.
We are on the verge of world dis
aster: The hope of the world lies in
two dlrectlons: some quick realization
by European labor and government
leaders of the critical nature of things.
and in America. Europe is approaching
close to a crater"
What must America be prepared to
do?" | asked.
This" he said. "Amerrca must
stand sound and true to the ideals for
which we fought the war. There can
be no let-down in our state of idealism
maintained so nobly throughout the
armed struggle. We've got to continue
our sacrifice, to continue to stand to-
gether for the sake of the world we
live IN.
Let me suggest something There