The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-10-01
Written for Labor journal by
+. p. MARSH
Member Presidents Mediation
Commission

f. p. MARSH
Member Presidents Mediation
Commission
If asked the question, "What is the
greatest domestic problem pressing
upon the American people for solu-
ton? Undoubtedly nine out of ten
men, no matter what their station in
life, would instantly reply, "the La
Dor problem" On railroad trains, in
hotel Hobbies, in factory Offices and in
the homes of the nation, the Labor.
question is ever to the forefront in
thought and conversation.
There is no solution" of the La
Dor problem in the sense that indus
trial discomfort will ever be entirely
allayed. Desire and ambition are as
old as the human race. 1t is natural
for men to aspire to improved con-
ditions of life, purchased with the
expenditure of brain and Drawn, as
it is to breathe. Otherwise there
would have been no progress, no
civilization.
He who hopes to evolve an indus
trial panacea that will end all our in
dustrial troubles, troubles growing
out of conflicting desires, emotions
and clashing wills, must suffer dis
illusionment. The problem is not one
Of dreaming of Elysian fields, but
one Of establishing the proper rela-
tions between employer and employee,
bringing to each a proper perspective
of the responsibility of each to So
ciety and to each other, of adopting a
broad, comprehensive policy of de-
termining how Labor and Capital
shall approach the mutual working
out of problems which are vital to
both and which in the last analysis
spell veal or woe to society.
Both Labor and Capital, each in
its own field and for it's own pur-
pose, have found it necessary to com
bine. The land is dotted with or
CARNATIONS of employers and organ
izations of workers. They are need
full and praiseworthy, and modern
them. There is no criticism in the
mind of the writer toward such or
ganization per Sc of either group.
Between many of these groups there
is understanding and cooperation and
the community and the nation profit
thereby. Between many more there
is nothing but mutual distrust, sus-
picion, thinly yelled hostility, which
ever and anon breaks out in open
rupture and the community and the
nation suffer.
Each Side Fears the Other
Organized Labor too often fears
Organized Capital and Organized
Capital fears Organized Labor. From
that mutual fear is born mutual hate.
Given that state of mind and deadly
clash is as inevitable as fate. Let
one organize to the point that it feels
its strength and seeks to lessen the
power of the other, the other seeks
reprisal and so on ad infinitum.
Clearly, a way should be found to
retain these organizations, which are
inherently productive of much good,
and set them to some other purpose
and motive than that of preying upon
and destroying each other.
This, then, will be a chronicle of
what happened in one industry in
utilizing the organized strength of
both groups in serving their coun-
try both in war and in peace, in
bringing about an added measure of
contentment to the workers and en-
ployers, without strikes or lockouts,
so destructive to morale, to indus
trial output and the general we'll
being of society.
When our country was plunged in
the maelstrom of the World War the
first thought of those responsible for
it's conduct was of the industrial
situation. The natural wealth of the
land, the inventive genius of America
the highly developed business ma
chinery, the proven valor of Amerl-
can arms in all the conflicts of the
past, were sure assets in the stu
pendous struggle that lay ahead. But
what of the industrial man power of
America? Would it throw unreserv-
eddy it's great strength into industrial
production, or would it paralyze the
nation by strikes, taking advantage
of the governments needs to wrest
from their employers conditions it
had hitherto been unable to obtain?
Upon the answer to that question
rested success or failure of our mill
tary efforts.
On the shores of the Pacific lay
land upon which Nature had lavished
her bounties From the "days of old,
the days of gold, the days of 49,"
wondrous California had poured out
her treasure upon the lap of the
lap of the nation. Once again she
was to play stellar role upon the
worlds stage, this time to help stem
the German hordes, not alone with