Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-05-30

make life tolerable. That bad road |
has turned out a blind alley. It is |
no thoroughfare to real prosperity. |
We must find aEother, Leading in an
other direction and to very differ
ent destination. 1t must lead not |
merely to accommodation but also to a
genuine cooperation and partnership |
based upon real community of inter- |
est and participation in control.
Labor legislation lies, of course,
chiefly with the states; but the new
spirit and method of organization
which must be effected are not to be
brought by legislation so much as by
the common counsel and voluntary
cooperation Of capitalist, manager,
and workman. Legislation can go only
very little way in recommending what
shall be done. The organization of in
dustry is matter of corporate and
individual initiative and of practical
business arrangement. Those who
really desire new relationship be-
tween capital and labor can readily
find a way to bring it about; and per-
haps federal legislation can help more
than state legislation could.
Industrial Demonstration.
"The object of all reform in this
essential matter must be the genuine
democratization of industry, based
upon 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 on the part they are to
play in industry. Some positive leg
islation is practicable. The congress
has 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. 1t
has sought to find the way to prevent
child labor, and will, 1 hope and be-
| lieve, presently find 1t. 1t has served
the whole country by leading the way
in developing the means of preserv-
ing and safeguarding life and health
in dangerous industries. The mem
bers OF the committee on. labor in the
two houses Hardly need suggestions
from me as to what means they shall
seek to make the federal government
the agent of the whole nation in point
ing out. and if need be, guiding the
process of reorganization and reform
Duty to Returning Soldiers.
81 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 II
that our returning soldiers are assist
ed in every practicable way to fine
the places for which they are lifted il
the daily work of this country. Thi;
can be done by developing and main
tanning upon an adequate scale the ad
morable organization created by tn,
department of labor for placing mel
seeking work; and it can also be done
in at least one very great field. by ere
ating new opportunities for individua
enterprise. The secretary of the in
terror has pointed out the way b,
which returning soldiers may be helpe,
to find and take up land in the hither
to undeveloped regions of the countr
which the federal government has al
. ready prepared or can readily prepar
for cultivation, and also on many O
the cutover or neglected areas whicl
, lie within the. limits of the olde
states. and once more take the lit
, erty of recommending very urgentl
, that his plan shall receive the immed
: ate and substantial support of the cor
gress.
Future Commerce.
"Our new merchant ships, which hav
in some quarters been feared as de
structive rivals, may prove helpful ri'
; ais, rather, and common servants yer
much needed and welcome. Our grea
shipyards, new and old, will be S
opened to the use of the world ths
!, they will prove immensely seryiceabl
:, to every maritime people in restorini
!, much more rapidly than would othe
wise have been possible, the tonnae
wantonly destroyed in the war.
have only to suggest that there al
: many points at which we can facil
tate American enterprise in foreig
' trade by opportune legislation, an
make it easy for Americep merchal
8 ships where they will be welcomed {
. friends rather than as dreaded 3nta
;, onists.
"And credit and enterprise alike wi
= be quickened by timely and helpf
legislation with regard to taxation.
= hope that the congress will find it po
= sible to undertake an early reconsi
\ Grafton of federal taxes, in order
; make our system of taxation more sir
" pie and easy of administration and Il
g taxes themselves as little burderSoH
as they can be made and yet suffice
r. support the government and meet {
" it's obligations. The figures tc whi
,r those obligations have arisen are We
,r great indeed, but they are not so gre
n as to make it difficult for the nation
,e meet them, and meet them, perhaps,
s. single generation. by taxes viii
,e will neither crush nor discourse
ct They are not so great as they see
r. not so great as the immense sums
IL have had to borrow, added to the i
of mense sums we have had to raise
rt taxation, would seem to Indicate; 1
ze a very large proportion of these SUI
s. were raised I'm order that they mig
to be loaned to the governments wi
panel in their attempt to get the gil