Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-12-16

slider this matter In a vigorous way
has produced bitterness and jealousies
and antagonisms, the food of radical
ism. The only way to keep men from
agitating against grievances is to re-
move the grievances. An unwilling
| ness even to discuss these matters
produces only dissatisfaction and gives
comfort to the extreme elements in
our country, which endeavor to stir
up disturbances in order to provoke
governments to embark upon a course
of retaliation and repression. The
seed OF revolution is repression. The
remedy for these things must not be
negative in character. 1t must be
constructive. 1t must comprehend the
general interest. The real antidote
for the unrest which manifests itself
is not suppression but deep consider
alton of the wrongs that beset our ma
tional life and the application of a
remedy.
Capital and Labor.
Congress already has shown its will
ingness to deal as the standard in
every field of labor. 1t has sought to
find way to prevent child labor. 1t
has served the whole country by lead
ing the way in developing the means
of preserving and safeguarding lives
and health in dangerous industries.
1t must now help in the difficult task
Of finding method that will bring
about genuine characterization of in
dustry, based upon the full recognition
of the right of those who work, in
whatever rank, to participate in some
organic way in every decision which
directly affects their welfare. 1t is
with this purpose In mind that called
conference to meet in Washington
on December / to consider these prob
lens in all their broad aspects, with
the idea Of bringing about better I'M
Outstanding between these two in
terestS.
The great unrest throughout the
world, out of which has emerged a
demand for an immediate considera-
ton of the difficulties between capital
and labor, bids us put our own house
in order. Frankly, there can be no per-
manent and lasting settlements be-
tween capital and labor which do not
recognize the fundamental concepts
for which labor has been struggling
through the years. The whole world
gave it's recognition and Endorsement
to these fundamental purposes in the
League of Nations.
The statesmen gathered at YER
sailles recognized the fact that world
stability could not be had by revert
ing to industrial standards and condi-
tons against which the average work
man of the world had revOlted. 1t is,
therefore, the task of the statesmen
of this new day of change and read
justment to recognize world conditions
and to seek to bring about through leg
islation conditions that will mean the
ending of age-long antagonisms be-
tween capital and labor and that will
hopefully lead to the building up of
comradeship which will result not only
in greater cOntentment among the
mass of workmen but also bring about
a greater production and greater
prosperity to business itself.
Justice in Labors Demands.
To analyze the particulars in the de-
mands of labor is to admit the justice
of their complaint in many matters
that lie at their basis.
The workman demands an adequate
wage, sufficient to permit him to live
in comfort, unhampered by the fear
of poverty and want in his old age. He
demands the right to live and the right
to work amidst sanitary surroundings,
both in home and In workshop, sur
roundings that develop and do not re-
tard his own health and well-being.
and the right to provide for his chill
drens wants in the matter of health
and education. In other words, it is
his desire to make the conditions of
his life and the lives of those dear to
him tolerable and easy to bear.
The establishment of the principles
regarding labor laid down in the cove
nant of the League of Nations offers
us the way to industrial peace and
Cancellation. No other road lies open
to us. Not to pursue this one is longer
to invite enmities, bitterness and an
tagonisms, which, in the end, only lead
to industrial and social disaster.
The unwilling workman is not
profitable servant. An employee whose
industrial life is hedged about by hard
and unjust conditions which he did
not create and over which he has no
control, lacks that fine spirit of en-
thusiasm and volunteer effort which
are necessary ingredients of great
producing entity.
Let us be frank about this solemn
matter. The evidences of worldwide
unrest which manifest themselves in
violence 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
remedy? Is it not the business of
statesmen to treat these manifesto
lions of unrest which meet US on
every hand as evidences of an eco
nomic disorder and to apply construc-
tive remedies wherever necessary, be-
ing sure that in the application of
the remedy we touch not the vital
tissues of our industrial and economic
life?
There can be no recession Of the
tide of unrest until constructive In
strumentalities are set up to stem that
tide.
Governments must recognize the
right of men collectively to bargain
for humane objects that have at their
base the mutual protection and well
fare of those engaged in all indus
tries.
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