The Benson signal., 1919-05-31

|
brought by legislation so much as by
the common counsel and voluntary
| cooperation Of capitalist, manager and
| workman. Legislation can go only a
very little way in commanding what
snail be done. The organization of in
! dustry is a matter of corporate and
individual initiative and of practical
business arrangement. Those who re-
ally desire new relationship between
capital and labor can readily find a
way to bring it about; and perhaps
FEDERAL legislation can help more than
state legislation could.
Industrial Demonstration.
"The object Of all reform in this es-
Sent1al matter must be the genuine
oemocratization of industry, based up
on 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 or the part they are to
play In industry. Some positive legis-
lat1on Is practicable. The congress
mas already shown the way to one re-
form which should be worldwide, by
establishing the eight-hour day as the
standard day in every field of labor
over which it can exercise control. It
has sought to find the way to prevent
child labor and will, I hope and be-
lieve, presently find it. 1t has served
the whole country by leading the way
In developing the means of preserving
and safeguarding life and health in
dangerous industries. It can now help
IN the difficult task Of giving a new
form and spirit to industrial organiza-
tion by co-ordinating the several
agencies Of conciliatiOn and adjust
ment which have been brought into ex-
istence by the difficulties and mistaken
policies of the present management of
industry, and by setting up and devel
oping new federal agencies of advice
and information which may serve as
clearing house for the best expert
ence and best thought on this great
matter, upon which every thinking
man must be aware that the future de-
velopment of society directly depends.
Agencies of international counsel and
suggestion are presently to be created
in connection with the league Of ma
tions in this very field; but it is ma
tional action and the enlightened pol
icy of individuals, corporations and So
cietieS within each nation that must
bring about the actual reforms. The
members of the committee on labor in
the two houses will hardly need sug-
gestions from me as to what means
they shall seek to make the federal
government the agent of the whole ma
tiOn in pointing out, and if need be,
guiding the process of reorganization
and reform.
Duty to Returning Soldiers.
T am sure that it is not necessary
for me to remind that there is one
immediate and very practical question
of labor that we should meet in the
most liberal spirit. We must see to it
that our returning soldiers are assist
ed in every practicable way to find
the places for which they are fitted
in the daily work of this country.
This can be done by developing and
maintaining upon an adequate scale
the admirable organization created by
the department of labor for placing
men seeking work; and it can also be
done, in at least one very great field,
by creating new opportunities for in
ixyid, onto 0f
the interior has pointed out the way
by which returning soldiers may be
helped to find and take up land in
the hitherto undeveloped regions of
the country which the federal govern
ment has already prepared or can
readily prepare for cultivation and
also on many Of the cut-over or neg
lected areas which lie within the linn
it's of the older states; and l once
more take the liberty Of recommend
ing very urgently that his plans shall
receive the immediate and substantial
support of the congress.
Peculiar and very stimulating con-
ditions await our commerce and in
dustrial enterprise in the immediate
future. Unusual opportunities will
present themselves to our merchants
and producers in foreign markets, and
large fields for profitable investment
will be opened to our free capital.
But it is not only of that that l am
thinking; it is not chiefly of that that
I am thinking. Many great industries
Frustrated by the war wait to be re-
habilitated, in many parts Of the
world where what will be lacking is
not brains or willing hands or Or
ganizing capacity or experienced skill
but machinery and raw materials and
capital / believe that our business
men, our merchants, our manufacture
ers, and our capitalists will have the
vision to see that prosperity in one
part of the world ministers to pros
perity everywhere; that there is in a
very true sense solidarity Of inter-
est throughout the world of enter
.,aa ,od +bot orr DEALINGS with tho