New Britain herald., 1919-05-20


 had road has turned out a blind alley. l It IS no thoroughfare to real prosper ltN We must find another, leading in another direction and to a vcrN diff fercnt destina ton. Ii must lca~ not merely to accommodation but also to a genuine cooperation and partner S'llp based on real community ot in 'elest ana participation in control.
 here IS now in fact a real com munlty of interest between capital and Iabor but it has never been made cVi- dent in action. It can be made oper- atlNc and manifest only in a new or Sahlzauon Of industry The genius or our business men and the sound p'actlcai sense of our workers can ctF'alhly "ork such a partnership out "l'eh once they rcalizc exactly what It IS that they seek and sincerely adopt common purpose with regard to it.
 Legislation Up to States.
 "LabOr legislation lies chiefly with the states; but the now spirit and method of organization which must hc affected are not to be brought about hN Ieg1SlatlOn so much as by the common counsel and voluntary CO.,
 'apltalist, manager ana "orkman.. Legislation can go only very l1ttIc way in commanding what shall be done. The organizatiOn of industry IS matter of corporate and !ndiNidual initiative and of practical
 puslnesS arrangement. Those who really desire a new relationship be-
 tween capital and labor can readily md a way to bring it about. and per maps federal legislation can help more than state legislation can.
 For Democratic Industry. The object of all reform in this es- sential matter must be genuine demo- cratization of industry, based on a full recosnitizion of the right of those who work, in whatever rank, to participate in some organic way in every decision
 which directly affects their welfare or the part they arc to play in industry 1 Some positive legislation is practica- i ble. The congress has already shown the way 10 one reform which should 1 be world wide, by eSta blishing the ! eight hour day as the standard day 1 in every field of labor over which it can exercise control It has sought 1 10 find the way to prevent child labor 1 and will, I hope and believe, present. 1 ly find it. It has served the whole 1 country by leading the way in dcVel ! oping the means of preserving and 1 safeguarding life and health in dan ! gerous industries. It can now help in
 the difficult task of giving a new form 1 and spirit to industrial organization 1 by CO-Ordna ting the several agencies l of concilation and adjustment which
 have been brought into existence by ! the difficulties and mistaken policies of the present mana cement of indus try and by setting up and developing new federal agencies of advice and information which may serve as d clearing house for the best expert ments and the best thought on these great matters, upon which every ] thinking man must be aware that the 1 future development of society directly | depends. Agencies of international 1 counsel and suggestion are presently 1 being created in connection with the 1 league of nations in this very field but ] it is national action and the enlighten- ! cd policy of individuals, corpora tiOns 1 and societies within each nation that 1 must bring about the actual reforms. l The members of the committees on la
 Dor in the two houses will hardly need suggestions from me as to what they shall seek to make the federal govern l mont the agent of the whole nation in | pointing out and, if need be, guiding 1 Inc process of reorganization and re- 1 form.
 1 ''I am sure that it is not necessary 1 for me to remind you there is one inn l mediate and very practical question of | labor that we should meet in the most | liberal spirit, We must sec to it that ] our returning soldiers arc assisted In 1 every practicable way to find the ] places for which they arc fitted in the ] daily work of the country. This can 1 be done by dclcgating and maintain- l ing on an adequate scale the admir- able organization created by the de- partment of Ia bor for placing men 1 seeking work: and it can also be done 1 in at least one very great field by ere
 a.ting new opportunities for individual 1 enterprise. The secretary of the in l terior has pointed out the way by
 which returning soldiers may he help l ed to find and take up land in the 1 hitherto undeveloped regions of the | country which the federal governm ent 1 has already prepared or can readily l prepore for cultivation and also on , many of the cut-oNer or neglect ed
 areas which lie within the limits of
 the older states; and I once more take
 the liberty of recommending very urgently that his plans shall receive
 the mm ediatc and substantial support
 of the congress.
 Great Future Presents Itself
 "Peculiar and very stimulating ] conditions await our commerce and l industrial enterprise in the immediat e l future. Unusual opportunities Will ! presently present themselves to our
 merchants and producers in foreign
 markets and large fields for profitable 1 investment will be opened to our free
 capital. But it is not only of that
 that l am thinking; if is not chiefly of
 that that l am thinking. Many great
 industries prOstrated by the war wait
 to be rehabiliated, in many parts of