The Washington herald., 1920-02-18
World Problems, Relation
OF Employer and EN-
'ploye, National Budget,
Merchant Marine, Are
Touched Upon - Ex-
plains American Social
Philosophy.

iLioook>iiy.
forces, but the new Relationship Of
employer and empIoys must be q
matter of deliberate organisation
within Industry itself. / am con-
vinced that the vast majority
OF American labor Fundamentally
wishes to cooperate in production
and that this basis OF eeod will
can be organised and the vitality
of production recreated.
Example Of Coal Inaastry.
Many Of the questions Of this
industrial relationship involve large
engineering problems. as an In
stance Of which I know Of no bet
ter example than the issue you plan
for discussion tomorrow in connec-
ton with the soft coal industry.
Broadly. here is an industry func-
tioning badly from an engineering
and. consequently, from an eco
nomic and human standpoint. Ow-
ing to the intermittency of produc-
tion, seasonal and local. this indus
try has been equipped 20 a peak
load Of Is or 30 per cent over the
averate load. II has been provided
with a 3 or 20 per cent larger labor
complement than IT would require
IL continuous operation could be
brought about. i hope your dis
cussion will throw some light on
the possibilities Of remedy. There
lies in this intermittency not only
a long train Of human misery
through intermittent employment,
but the economic loss to the COM
munity of over 10000 workers
| who could be applied to other pro-
duction, and the cost Of coal could
be decreased to the consumer. This
intermittency lies at the root Of the
last strike in the attempt Of the
employes to secure an equal divi-
sion among themselves OF this par
tial employment at a wage that
could meet their view of q living
return on full employment
| These are but q few of the prob
lens that confront us. But in the
formulating Of measures Of soiu-
tion. we need q constant adherence
to national ideals and our own So
cial philosophy.
In the discussion of these ideals
and this social philosophy, we hear
much of radicalism and OF reac-
tion. They are, in fact. not an aca-
demic state of mind but realise into
real groups and real forces -infiu-
encing the solution Of economic
problems in this community. In
their present day practical aspects,
they represent on one hand roughly
various degrees Of exponents OF So
cialism. who would directly or in
directly undermine the principle of
private property and personal ini-
tiative, and, on the other hand.
those exponents who in various de-
grees desire to dominate the COM
munity for profit and privilege.
They both represent attempts to
Introduce or preserve class privi-
leEe. either moneyed or a buSeau-
/ cratic aristocracy. We have. how
ever. in American democracy an
ideal and a social philosophy that
sympathizes neither with radicaiism
nor reaction as they are manifested
today.
American Social Philosophy.
7 For generations the America n
people have been steadily develop
ing a social philosophy as part of
their own democrscy-and in those
ideals, IL differs from all other de-
mocracies. This Philosophy has
stood this period OF test in the fire
OF common sense: It is. in substance,
that there should be an equality of
opportunity - an equal chance-to
every citizen. This view that every
individual should, within his life
time, not be handicapped in secur-
Ing that particular niche in the
community TO which his abilities
and character entitle him. is itself
the negation of class. Human be-
ings are not equal in these qualities.
But a society that is based upon a
constant fluN of individuals in the
community, upon the basis Of abil-
ity and character, is a moving virile
mass: IL is not a stratification Of
classes. Its inspiration is individual
1 Initiative. Its stimulus is competi-
tion. Its safeguard is education. Its
greatest mentor is free speech and
voluntary organization for public
good. Its expression in legisls tion
Is the common sense and common
will of the majority. 1t is the es-
| sence of this democracy that prog
ress of the mass must arise from
progress OF the individual. II does
not permit the presence in the COM
munity of those who would not give
full need of service
Its conception of the state is
one that. representative Of all the
citizens, will in the region of eco
nomic activities apply itself mainly
TO the stimulation of knowledge,
the undertaking only of works be-
yond the initiative of the individual
or group, the prevention OF eco
nomic domination of the few over
hA AA
into commerce that government
| functions necessitate.
"The method and measures by
! which We solve this accumulation
of great problems will depend upon
which Of these three conceptions
will reach the ascendency amongst
our people.
IF we cling to our national
ideals II will mean the final isola-
| ton and the political abandonmen mt
| of the minor groups who hope for
domination of the government.
either by interests" or by radical
social theories through the control
Of our political machinery. I some
times feel that lawful radicalism In
politics is less dangerous than re-
action, for radicalism is blatant and
displays itself in the open. Un-
lawful rsdicalism can be handled
by the police. Reaction too often
| fools the people through subtle
channels of obstruction and pro-
gressive platitudes. There is little
danger Of radicslism ever control
ling country with SO large a
farmer population. except in one
contingency. That contingency is
rom a reflex Of continued attempts
| to control this country BY the