The Washington herald., 1919-12-03

Octbcr unoerbIAuQlnt DctNccu enooo
two tnteresta-
The great unrest throughout the
world, out of which has emerged
q demand for an immediate con-
sideration of the difficulties be-
tween capital and labor. bids US
put our own house in order. Frank
ly, there can be no permanent and
lasting settlements between capi-
tai and labor which do not rec
ognize the fundamental concepts
for which labor has been strug-
Cling through the years.
To analyze the particulars In the
demands 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
retard his own health and we'll
being: and the right to provide for
his children's wants in -the mat
ter of health and education In
other words, il is his desire to
make the conditions of his life and
the lives Of those dear TO him
tolerable and easy to bear.
Nations vitality Mcnaced.
The evidences OF worldwide
unrest which manifest them
selves in violence throughout
the world bid US pause and con-
slider the means to be found to
stop the spread OF this conta-
gious thing before IL saps the
very vitality Of the nation itself.
Do We gain strength by with
holding the remedy? Or is II not
the business OF statesmen to
treat these manifestations OF un-
rest which meet us on every
hand as evidences of an econom-
&c disorder, and to apply con-
structive remedies wherever
necessary, being 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 construc-
tive instrumentalitiesa 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 welfare Of those
engaged in all Industries. La
Dor must not be longer treated
as a commodity. II must be re-
garded as the activity of human
beings. possessed of deep yearn-
ings and desires. The business
man gives his best thought to
the repair and replenishment Of
his machinery, so that its use
fulness will not be impaired and
its power to produce may al
ways be at its height and kept
in full vigor and motion
No less regard ought to be
paid to the human machine.
which after all propels the ma
chinery of the world and is the
great dynamic force that lies
back OF all industry and prog
ress. Return to the old stand
ards of wage and industry in
employment are unthinkable-
Labor not only is entitled TO an
adequate wage, but capital should
receive a reasonable return upon
it's investment and Is entitled to
protection at the hands Of the gov
ernment in every emergency. SO
government worthy of the name
can play" these elements against
each other. for there Is a mutual
fly of interest between them which
the government must seek to ex-
press and to safeguard at all cost
The right OF individuals TO strike
is inviolate and ought not to be In
government. but there is a pre-
dominant right and that is the
right OF the government to protect
all of its people and to assert its
power and majesty against the
challenge OF any class.
In the matter of International
disputes which have led to war.
statesmen have sought to set up as
a remedy arbitration for war.
Does this not point the way for
the settlement Of industrial dis
putes by the establishment OF q
tribunal, fair and just alike TO all.
which will settle industrial dis
putes which in the past have led to
war and disaster?
Americas Hour of Test.
This is the hour of test and trial
for America. By her prowess and
strength and the indomitable cour-
age of her soldiers, she demon
strated her power to vindlcate on
foreign battlefields her conceptions
OF liberty and justice. Let not her
influence as a mediator between
capital and labor be weakened and
her own failure to settle matters
Of purely domestic concern be pro-
claimed to the world.
There are those in this coun-
try who threaten direct action
to force their will upon a ma jor-
fly. Russia today, with its blood
and terror. is a painful object
lesson of the power OF minori-
ties. 1t makes little difference
what minority il is, whether
capital or labbr or any other
class. no sort of privilege will
ever be permitted to dominate
this country. We are a partner
ship or nothing that is worth
while. We are a democracy.
where the majority are the mas
tiers. or all the hopes and pur-
poses OF the men who founded
this government have been de-
feated and forgotten. In Amer
lea there is but one way by
which great reforms can be sc-
-complished and the relief sought
by classes obtained, and that is
through the orderly processes
OF representative government
Those who would propose any
other method OF reform are enc
mics OF this country. America
will not be daunted by threats