The Tomahawk., 1919-05-29

We HluSl ma another, leading IN an
| cther direction and to very differ
ent destination. 1t must lead not
merely to accommodation but also to n
genuine cooperation and partnership
based upon a 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
ich 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 60 only
very little way in recommending what
shall be done. The organization Of in
dustry is a matter of corporate and
individual initiative and of practical
business arrangement. Those who
really desire a new relationship be-
tween capital and labor can readily
ind a way to bring it about : and per-
haps federal legislation can help more
than state legislation could.
Industrial characterization.
1.-The object Of all reform in this
essential matter must be the genuine
democratization of industry, based
upon a 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
1slation 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. It
has sought to find the way to prevent
child labor, and will, 1 hope and be-
lieve, presently find it. It 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 men,
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.
II 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 main
tanning upon al adequate scale the ad-
mOrable 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 Gre
ating new opportunities for individual
enterprise. The secretary Of the in
terror has pointed out the way by
which returning soldiers may be helped
to find and take up land in the hither-
to undeveloped regions of the country
which the federal government has al
ready prepared or can readily prepare
for cultivation, and also on many Of
lie within the limits of the older
states; and I once more take the lib
erty of recommending very urgently
that his plan shall receive"the immedi-
ate and substantial support of the con-
gress.
Future Commerce.
"Our new merchant ships, which have
in some quarters been feared as de-
structive rivals, may prove helpful riv-
ais, rather, and common servants very
much needed and welcome. Our great
shipyards, new and cid, will be so
opened to the use of the world that
they will prove immensely serviceable
to every maritime people in restoring,
much more rapidly than would other
wise have been possible, the tonnage
wantonly destroyed In the war.
have only to suggest that there are
many points ut which we can facili-
tate American enterprise In foreign
trade by opportune legislation, and
make 1t easy for American merchant
ships where they will be welcomed as
friends rather than as dreaded antag-
onists.
"And credit and enterprise alike will
be quickened by timely and helpful
legislation with regard to taxation. I
hope that the congress will find it pos
sible to undertake an early reconsid-
Grafton of federal taxes, in order to
make our system of taxation more SIM
ple and easy of administration and the
taxes themselves as little burdensome
as they can be made and yet suffice to
support the government and meet all
its obligations The figures to which
those obligations have arisen are very
great indeed, but they are not so great
as to make it difficult for the nation to
meet them, and meet them, perhaps, n
single generation, by taxes which
will neither crush nor discourage.
They are not so great as they seem,
not so great as the immense sums we