Evening star., 1919-12-27

strike began that the tweIve-hour day
and the seven-day week were so COM
mon still in the steel industry, and
that it was a week or more after the
coal strike began that he found out
that the demand for a five-day week
of six hours day-which seemed so
astounding and unreasona able-would.
if it were introduced, actually mean d
slightly longer average working week
than the miners of America have had
during the past few years.
Slump From IdeaIism.
Over and over again since | have
been investigating this dangerous in
dustrial situation l have felt as / did
at Paris during the peace conference.
There is the same slump" from the
high spirit and noble idealism which
characterized the war period. Never
was there such unity between labor
and capital as there was in America
during the war. never so great a con-
cern for generous service and high
production. 1t Was the marvel of the
whole world. I was in England dur
, ing the spring of 1918 and know how
widely the British press published the
records made by US in Shipbuildlng
| and other industries through the CO.
, operation. of employers and their
| worllmen. But the moment the war
ceased the same disintegration took
, place in industrial relationships IN
| America as we saw at Paris between
| the nations. The bottom fell out OF
idealism' The great moment mad
! passed, there had been no miracle. we
! were back at the old controversies
| selfish interests were again rampant
, and the struggle was sharper than
ever before.
We are passing through much the
| same psychological process in get
ting a new understanding between Ia
, Dor and capital as We are in getting {:
| same
| forces are at work: the same obstl-
! nate reactionary elements, the same
! unreasonable radicallsm. we art
trembling upon the thin edge. IN botf
problems. between organization an.
anarchy Which way are we gong
Is it to be confusion and anarchy ane
war-or is it to be good order ant
| organization and cooperation!
In both cases almost every one
agrees that we cannot go back TO th'
old. But can we go on 10 ,ne - ne"
Are we brave enough? Are we clear
sighted enough our record. so far
regarding future international reia
tionships is not reassurlhg. w.
do better with our equally dlficu, ,
internal problems? We know or .niii, !,
we know. pretty well what to do II
international affairs. Almost ever.
ono AGREES to some kind of leasu'
of nations. Are we anywhere near
&c cIear about the industrial prop
lem?
Encts in fhe Case Needed.
Aeain. as in those hard months
Paris. | feel strongly the WahL
knowledge of the facts IN the case
The nrime difficulty here and now
| = u-as in Paris. is the want of prope
| nnhI;c;tv The great American puoii
does not understand the situation.
7 felt over and over again at fari
that if only I could sit down WIN
, pro,ID of my neighborS ana eAplar'
fbe whole situation, present the dlhi
mites involved, describe the danger
of drifting without constructiN
| nurnose. could show them why
even though the treaty was defectiV
in many ways, it was absolutely nee
| essary to get some organization d
! work some league in being to stead.
the world.
| I have had exactly the same con
viction since beginning the study o
| the present Industrial SITUATION
America. 1t is based upon the sam'
solid faith in the essential gooo sens
of the American people II thev cal
| only see the situation as l have peer
| seeing it in some of the great lndus
| trial centers where strikes nave peer
! raging: if they can only know VIVA
| the issues really are, as L nave ma,
| them presented by leaders on potf
| sides of the great controversy; II the!
can only understand how intensel!
human the problems are. how full o
the common stuff of life; if they cal
| he shown where the truly reconstruc
| tive experimentation is going on ant
! who are the thoughtful leaders OF
both sides-if the American people
can see and know and understand
; these things. they will decide arlgh
| regarding them.
| I'm Mr.. Bakers second article, or
| Wednesday, he will describe the en-
ployers' view Of the present industrial
| unreSt.)
Copyright, 1919. by n. Y. Evening Post, Inc.