The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-14
GENIUS VERSUS BOLsHEvIsM.


observation genius 10 per cent. inspiration and
some similar opinions the value of work He
says:
IF my life had been made up Of eight-hour days,
don't believe | could have accomplished great
deal This country would not amount to much
it does if the young men of fifty years ago had
been afraid that they might earn more than they
were paid. There shirkers in those days. to be
sure but they did not boast OF it. The shirker tried
to conceal excuse his shiftlessness and lack Of
ambition.
Il am not against the eight-hour day any other
thing that protects labor from exploitation at the
hands Of ruthless employers but it makes me sad to
see young Americans shackle their abilities by blind
ly conforming to rules which force the industrious
man to keep step with the shrker If these rules
are carried to their logical conclusion it would
seem that they are likely to establish a rigid sys
tenn of vocational classes, which will make it diff
ficult for the workngman to improve his condition
and station in life by his efforts
1T used to be fashionable to be ambitious. There
appears to have been change in recent years. The
present disposition is seemingly to say in effect:
am what l am and so shall 1 remain. 1 aspire to
nothing better than my present job. ask for moth
ing but larger wages and shorter hours"
In a recent conference of the National Federation
Construction Industries the following facts We're
brought out:
That there is shortage of 100000 workers in the
basic industries.
| That 100000 new homes will be needed in the next
five years.
That increased production is stifled through in
ability to hasten factory construction
That there is a % per cent underproducton IN
basic industries.
That Red propaganda has been the chlel laclor III
Iessening labor efficiency
Tho 4ba is
effect. that it is discouraging marriage and child
bearing and in the great cities is causing husbands
to seek boarding houses and their wives TO return
| to their parents homes.
1t was upon these and kindred questions that the
| conference took action.
resolution adopted declaring that the great
est obstacle is shortage of skilled and unskued
labor and that this can be remedied only by more
liberal immigration laws. These laws should permit
entry to all law-abidng workmen, and should pro-
vide for the wedding out OF radicals. A committee
was appointed to work for the proposed new legis-
| lation.
| Another resolution, pointing out that much money
in the past invested in first mortgages on dwellings
is now used on taxable investments. asked for
exemption from income tax on investments based on
dwellings The resolution urged the enactment Of
two hills now before congress embodying this idea.
/ The bill introduced by Senator William NJ. Calder
| to extend certain government aid in BODYBUILDING
| for workers was endorsed and federation members
were asked to work for its passage.
Creation of Division OF Construction in the United
States Bureau of Standards strongly endorsed
as means of standardzing building products and
bringing about more speedy development in the
building industries.
| The Federation also appointed committee to
gather and disseminate information to fire causes
with view to reducing the nations tlosses, which
have reached point where $4,000 lives and billion
dollars worth OF property are the annual toll
The Bolshevists doing great part towards
impeding construction but there is many man born
in the United States of good American stock, VINO is
also helping along the cause Of the Reds. In most
cases these men are unconscious allies Of the Red
armies and have no intention OF enlistng in any
cause opposed progressyet thousands of men, too
careless or Indifferent to look below the surface OF
the present unrest are not only agning themselves
with the enemies OF the United States and of de-
mocracy but are standing in the light of their
best interests.
1t is time for the young business and the young
working men OF the United States to take stock OF
tn ~nseves and the situation which this country is
facing today 1t is not the who shirks his job
that gets to the top, it is the man who does just
little bit more his fellows and climbs above the
heads of those who refuse work for anything but
wages.
Suppose John wanamaker, Curtis. Schwab. or
James ]. HILL or Edison or Woodrow Wilson,
Marshal Field or General Pershing had refused to
give a good days work for good days pay. Where
would these men be today and where would be
those enterprises and those which they rep
resent?