Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-25
ARTICLE TX.
BY RAY STANDARD BAKER

BY ma SyANNAND DAHAH<hss
= INCE these articles began ap-
pearing 1 have received quite
number of letters making
substantially this inquiry:
We'll. what are we going to do
about it,"
conditions of industrial unrest and
the real danger to America inherent
in them is surely the best foundation
for making a new start
In the letters I refer to. and in
talks ! have had recently. another at
titude of mind is plain to see: that
while the situation is extremely dill
ficult it can and must be worked
out. One of the surprising things
has been the number of different
plans, schemes. experiments. pana-
ceas, contained in these letters They
come from several parts of the coun-
try and from various kinds OF peo-
ple-practical men. reformers. min
listers, radicals Some show great
labor; some represent long and pa
tient experimentation; some shoot
wholly wide of the mark; some re-
veal no knowledge whatever OF real
conditions. But their significance lies
in the exhibition they give of ex-
uberant thought. of sincere desire TO
meet the situation in some construc-
tive way. They seem to me an ex-
preston of the confident American
spirit in the motto I have already
quoted: 1T can be done"
We know that We are in trouble.
We have the desire and the will to
ind a way out.
What we lack are clearness and
unity of purpose in seeking rem
edy.
Three Proposals for Solution.
Three main ways of approach to
solution" present themselves:
% That of the extremists on both
sides; the 'shoot-'em- down" program
on the part of the intolerant employ
er. the "blow-em-up" program on the
part of the intolerant worker. Either
way lies perdition.
co That of a great mass of en-
ployers and employes-and of the
public as well-who see the problem
dimly Cor some part of it) and who
want really to And a constructive So
luton. but who think it can be reach
ed in some large general way. They
want q quick, wholesale remedy that
won't hurt much, or cost much, or
take much time. They do not. yet
understand how deep-seated, of how
long Duration. how chronic, the dis
ease has become. For example. 1t APP
pears wildly to some employers that
In the recent great strikes most OF
the trouble was caused by foreign
ers." by aliens and ALLEN ideas"
They do not follow the extremists in
demanding instant suppression and
deportation. but they do jump at
what seems to them ready ana
wholesale remedy: characterization.
Americanize these workers and you
cure the trouble!
On the part of the workers there
is a similar example of the desire for
a broad general remedy. They be-
lieye that much Of the trouble is due
to unjust laws, oppression by judi
ciaI intunctions. outworn political
methods, and propose a new political
party which will overturn the old
system or parts of it and construct a
new one by law.
(3) The third group is much
smaller one as yet. but it is made
ND of those employers and managers
and men who are beginning to see the
real depth and width and length OF
the problem. and whose approach is
based upon the patient method of
scientific inquiry guided by spirit of
genuine good will. They strive to
know all the facts and to get at
real cure through steady day by day
practice and experimentation in shops
and factories. These are the men &C
tually on the ground, not distant
fnanciers. nor distant labor leaders,
nor distant theorists These are the
men who must get at a modus vi
vendi or. be ruined The work that
some of these good will employers
and managers are doing is as fine and
high as anything to be found in this
world today.
Campaign for Americanizntion.
Now. in this article and the next, in
order to get at least two of the more
general remedies out of the way first
will take UP the subject OF the
present campaign for Americanization
as suggested by the employers end OF
Che controversy; and political action
as suggested by the workers. Both
are valuable movements. our foreign
ers do need Characterization and
need i. badly. and the workers dc
need political expression. but we must
understand thoroughly what is i'm
piled by each movement and how far
IL is intended TO go with it. In follow
ing articles | shall exhibit some OF
.he more intensive and scientific ex-
periments ana try to show how fal
each is effective in meeting the
froubIe-for example. welfare work
the shop committee system. the meth
cd of continuous arbitration as re-
markably practiced in the clothing in
sustry, the new science OF manage
mfnt. as stimulated from the employ
@rs' side. and the new impulse towarc
cooperative enterprises among tn,
workers.
Consider now the subject of Amer.
4canization." know of meeting
held not long ago by group of bust,
1ess men in New York city TO discus.
this problem. They were deeply con
cerned about it. The suggestion mad,
in all seriousness by the principa
speaker was to have large numbe
Of copies of the Constitution of tn,