New-York tribune., 1919-10-07

THE power of replacement OF the
things destroyed has been seriously
impeded by the conditions that consti-
tute the aftermath Of war. Industry
has been disarranged by the processes
of reimbursement to the needs of peace,
and commerce has been handicapped
by insufficient shipping facilities, for
eign exchange and domestic uncer-
tainty. Many countries are without
stable government, and financial infla-
tion in all of the commercial coun-
tries Of the world has played havoc
with the relative values of money,
wages and commodities.
Problem of High Prices
"The effect Of these things has been
reflected in the high cost Of living and
the consequent demand for higher wage
rates to meet the increasing burden
of the family budget. There are but
two ways by which the general stand
ard of living of the wage workers can
be improved. One is by increased pro-
ductivity, making more material avail
able for wages. The other is by TAX
ing the means Of increased compen-
sation out of the profits of the en-
ployer. If wages are increased and
profits remain the same the burden is
passed on to the consuming public
in the form Of an increased cost of
living and comes back in that form
to the wage worker himself.
"No portion Of improved living
standards can come out Of the profits
of the employers unless there is profi-
teering. And what gives the oppor-
tunity for profiteering? The very con-
dltions that we are confronted with
to-day-the destructive agencies of
war, the disarrangement of industry
and commerce and the unrest and high
nervous tension Of our people, result
ing in shortage of supply as COM
pared with demand.
High Productivity Needed
"The whole world is interested in
efficiency, having due regard to the
health, safety and opportunities for
rest, recreation and improvement of
those who toll. The more productive
we are the sooner we will replace
the wastage of war, return to normal
price levels and abolish the oppor-
tunity for profiteering.
There can be no proflteering where
the production is ample to meet the
needs of the people of the world, it
there is free flow of material from
producer to consumer. 1t is only where
the production is not sufficient for the
| ~,
where artildial distractions impede
proper distribution, that there is any
possibility of profiteering. Anything
that restricts the highest efficiency
commensurate with the physical, men,
tai and spiritual we'll being of the
workers tends to retard the progress
of the country as whole.
Industrial Wrongs Dangerous
"For that reason we are all inter,
ested in the maintenance of industrial
peace, but there can be no permanent
industrial peace that is not based upon
! industrial justice. Just as interna-
tional wrongs may accumulate to the
point where war is necessary to bring
relief, so industrial wrongs may make
industrial conflict preferable to the
further endurance of the wrongs i'm
posed.
"Nor is it sufficient that either side
to an industrial controversy should be
the sole judge Of what constitutes JUS
tice. The means must exist by which
all men may know that justice has
been secured. An imaginary wrong
has all the force and effect of reality
until it is shown that it is only
imaginary. We have found ways Of
regulating all the other relations Of
mankind. Surely human intelligence
can devise some acceptable method Of
adjusting the relationship between en-
ployer and employc.
Rights Must Be Safeguarded
"Thc right of any man to cease
working for another for any reason
| that is sufficient to himself is the basic
element of human liberty. The right
Of any person to refuse to operate his
plant at any time he desires to do so
is the exercise of a property right
guaranteed by the Constitution.
ut does not follow that because
these rights exist it is necessary to
exercise them. They must nevertheless
be safeguarded. Having done that and
having devised the machinery by
which justice can be secured and by
which everybody at interest has the
opportunity of knowing that justice
has been secured, it is not likely that
the right to cease work will be exer-
cised by sufficient numbers, or the
right to cease operating industrial
plants will be carried to such an ex-
tent as to seriously affect the well
fare Of the balance Of the people.
Present Opportunity Epochal
"There have been a number of great
epochs in the spiritual and material
advancement of mankind. The laws Of
justice laid down by Moses and the
laws of love laid down by Christ stand
out as the greatest of all ideals. Upon
your shoulders rests a splendid respon-
sibility. Before you the doors of oppor-
tunity are open, not to the acquisition
of wealth or the attainment of fame,
but to the greater achievement, the es-
tablishment of institutions that will
promote the welfare Of mankind down
| through the ages,
"If you, in the abundance Of your
combined wisdom and experience, can
prduce an acceptable document Of this
character the results of your work will
find a place in the hearts of men, like
the Magma Charta, the Bill of Rights
the Declaration Of Independence, the
Constitution of the United States and
the Emancipation Proclamation.
ain the name of the President Of the
United States and in his behalf wish
you Godspeed in the great task before
YOU"
Carnegie Report Optimistic
at has been fine day." said Car
negie Steel Company official tonight
when asked as to the strike situation
ut looks as If we had New Castle
cleaned up tonight. We started up
our No.. blast furnace there at p