New-York tribune., 1920-05-12
Labor's Neglected Opportu-
nltY

l ne economic PllcClS OF ltlc war
opened to labor an uneXampled op-
portunity. Never before was there
offered to the workers, especially of
this country. such chance to serve
themselves and mankind as whole.
A remarkable demonstration had
been given Of the miracles possible
when men and women really desired
TO cooperate. In this country 4,000,-
600 put on uniforms and 100000,
leaving their regular vocations, went
into war industries. Despite the
subtraction the country's production
of peace commodities was greater
than in pre-war days. 1t was shown
that great reserves of economic
power existed, and that to draw a
sight draft on them all that was
needed was pen Of intelligence in
the hands Of a genuine desire for
concert of action.
The initiation of money and credit
plainly foreshadowed rise of prices.
This in turn implied d new valua-
ton Of all goods and services. With
such a change it was possible to
slough off old, false and conven-
tionalized assessments and to make
all valuations more just and true
and conformable to fact. A better
approximation to social justice hung
close and invited our grasp.
All that was required to realize
great popular blessings was intelli-
gence-an intelligence that would
seize the simple hint that production
must be increased if the dividend
the average man draws from society
is to be larger; an intelligence that
would see that voluntary and whole
hearted cooperation would pilot to
new Golcondas Of plenty; an intelli-
gence that recognized that with re-
spect to the new appraisement of
value most would suffer and few
gain if the hogs of society were
allowed to rush toward the trough
and upset it.
But, alas. so far such intelli-
gence has been lacking-particularly
among the workers, who now consti-
tute the ruling class. Instead of end
ing all rules and regulations that
lessen production, new restrictions
have been devised Union labor is still
largely in the grip of the delusion
that a multiplication Of jobs is a
good thing for the job holder. Co.
operation, gassed by the fumes Of
suspicion, is almost dead. The new
valuations are obviously less just
than the old, for the greedy and the
strong have prospered to the eXclu-
sion Of the modest and the weak.
Many leaders of labor see a great
mistake which is being committed,
but they feel compelled to temporize
with the wild radicals. SO produc-
ton has gone down and prices up.
Society is threatened with an en-
forced lowering of the standard Of
living. Quack remedies are widely
advertised. But investment in them
will aggravate the disease. There
is but one remedy-intelligen a
more instructed selfshness that not
only knows what it wants but how
to. get it. To impede and Interfere
with management. as is now the
practice, will surely not increase
production or encourage cooperation
The hope of creating labor
autocracy is vain and mad. Autoc-
racy cannot be made to endure. 1t
may beat off external enemies, but
it cannot conquer the seeds of disso-
luton which are within it. 1t rots
inside-always has and always will.
So sovietry, no matter how camou-
faged, cannot last-means not only
less to divide, but more glaring in
equality in the distribution of the
products Of industry.
1t is not too late to draw back
from the abyss to which false lead
ers are trying to beguile the labor
ing masses. Intelligence flies its
warnings. If they are not needed,
if there is a plunge over the brink,
then intelligence once again will be
the only guide during the long and
painful climb from the hole.
Every worker and every other per
son Interested in human progress
needs to think. If he thinks he will
perceive labor's neglected opportu-
lity and resolve that in the future
le will not be party 10 neglect. He
Sill go on Me job and stay on the