Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-01-16
PRODUCTION IS
need OF WORLD
Public Sentiment CryStaIIizing
for Return to Normal indus
trial Output.
THEN Time FOR ARGUMENT
Student of Conditions Points Out
Salient Facts Bearing on Problems
That Face the Nations Because of
the Present General Unrest.
BY HOWARD T. LEWIS.
Drnfncont, nf nina ITniN,nreifNt of

BY HOWARD T. LEWIS.
professor of Economics, University of
Idaho)
The decline of older unionism, a
feeling on the part of labor that en-
plOyers are organizing to deprive the
worker of advantages gained during
the war, and a definite conviction on
the part of the public that production
must start and strikes cease, are the
more important elements in the Amer
ican potpOurri Of industrial discomfort.
There seems to be a widespread feel
ing that the labor problems now con
fronting the United States are in some
way an OutgrOwth Of the war. AS a
matter Of fact, foundations of the pres
ent unrest were laid years before Ger
many launched her attempt at world
conquest. The war merely has brought
industrial difficulties to point where
action on them is imperative.
Partly because of unwise and short
sighted positions assumed by some
employers, and partly because Of GER
tain acts of the government itself,
labor has come 10 believe that an or
ganized movement has been launched
for the purpose of depriving labor Of
advantages obtained during the war.
Needless to say, the worker feels that
he should and must hold the ground he
has gained.
This is not an attempt to Justify the
present attitude on the part Of labor
nor to pass upon the ethics OF the
views certain labor leaders seem TO
have evolved. I am only calling at
tention to this attitude because an
understanding of it is essential 10 an
appreciative grasp Of the industrial
situation.
1t is vitality important to note that
older uniOnism, save III certain par
ticularS, is no longer an accurate guide
for the student of present problems.
Union locals have diSregarded consist
ently the directions of their national
leaders, their disobedence having re-
suited from several causes, among
them the refusal to apply the initia1
tive, referendum and recall to the Ma
tional Federation of Labor. No one
can gainsay the significance of statis-
tics which show that only about eight
of seventy recent strikes have been
approved by national labor leaders.
"How does the public feelY is
question which every student of the
situation obviously must ask. My con-
victiOn is that public sentiment for
increased production and a cessation
of strikes is growing rapidly. PRO
duce first and argue afterward," is the
admOnitiOn of the average citizen.
The situation is vastly complicated
because, in the presence of terrific
forces of a moral and economic char
acter operating through enlightened
reconstructionists toward building of a
the public, the employers and the Ia
borer have turned seem hOpelessly con-
fused. The government apparently
has developed no policy which might
serve as q compass; labor is divided
and capital is unable to unite upon
platform.
In view of the circumstances, it be-
hoOves us all to seek facts honestly
and to criticise cautiously. None but
the coward, however, will avoid his
duty to meet present difficulties simply
because the path is beset with OBJ
stacles, because the end is not yet In
sight.