Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-04
OUR POSITION ON STRIKES.

The very evident bad spirit in which the business
agent of the Painters Local accepted our suggestion
that the city commissioners investigate the merits
of the painters contention for an increase in wages
is highly illumnative of condition which is all too
prevalent in America 1t is condition when
threatens the stability OF our lhsntuuohs II rem
edy cannot be found.
There il no doubt that the financial condition
of many people in America is too easy and that OF
others far hard. The causes of TINS dangerously
wide chasm between excess wealth on the one hahd
and grinding poverty the othor hand, should con
sumo the thought of all lovers Of our common
country Every effort at an amelioration of the
condition of the less fortunate should nave atleho!
with singeness of purpose.
To relieve these conditions is not philanthropy
II il a question of life and death The instinct of
self preservation should move the fortunate to aid
in finding solution for the situation and the srik-
ing of an equilibrium in economic matters
The problems are very difficult. Even with
equality of opportunity these wide margins OF an
ference in success in money matters will arise, due
to differences in talents, Foresight leadership, ex-
ecutive capacity, even when unaded by over-reach-
ing, will result In unusual success.
These successes have been hugely swollen by the
newness of America. Selling upon undeveioped re-
sources with energy skill has created groesque
fortunes the menace of which lies chiefly in the
jealousy and discomfort aroused in others by their
existence. however, tHe power WilCH CohiS' "'NAi
the acquisition of money has been greatly abused
in many instances and conditions thereby aggra-
waited.
Men have seized upon the control of great in
dustry as a personal perqusite to be administered
as they choose. They have insisted upon their right
TO contract with the laborer as they choose, even
where the laborer is not in position TO protect hm
self in the bargaining.
The organization of unions was a proper method
of sef-defense and the strike upoa Just occasions
a proper means of exercising cornter-power in
dealing with the employer.
However, this latter power can. and sometimes
does become as unfair and unconscionable that
shown by the employer at other times This is
especially true in those where the general
public is really the employer for the public is the
real employer whenever the added costs can be
passed on to it unrestrained by the law of supply
and demand.
The public is not organized to offer resistance
and is therefore occasionally looted as unconscion-
ably by labor as it frequently has been by capital
The effort to organize public opinion to protect
itself is often resisted by capital and labor alike.
In the In point, that is precisely the thing
to which the painters Nusness agent objects BY
his evident anger at t. Ser suggesting an intelH-
gently organized public opinion to pass the
merits he probably hopes to make the politicians
the city commission wobbly for fear they may
hurt their political standing by drawing like
wrath upon themselves. Men never hurt in the
public estimation by fearlessly and without rancor
prejudice graphing with any plain duty and
doing it with honestly
The political side-stepper who allows the public
to be worsted because of his own personal timdity
is the who earns public contempt.
Walking delegates seize upon the natural irrita-
ton which comes from just grievances to whip
labor into action through its animosities and Its
pretndicss instead of Its judgment. They appeal
to the worst in their by advising them to get
theirs while they can, the unworthy capitalists
do, instead of intelrgently aiding in curbng those
capitalists. Two wrongs never yet made right,
and one is wrong the other.
The walking delegate often deliberately tears the
fabric of our common interests into the shreds of
self-interest and thereby bitterly arrays society
against ITSELF Ali of which is highly reprehensble
We against either capital labor under such
conditions We will. with equal freedom criticize
either Our sympathies are naturally with labor in
its efforts to better its conditions But labor like
capital. must only what is just in order to
our appreciation. We insist upon an intelligent in.
yestigation of the demands of either. .-.
We deplore class hatred. We must try to under.
stand each others problems in America We mus
all limit ourselves to justice in our demands. We
must all submit our at the bar of public opin
ion for verdict
Were the law of supply and demand operating
freely ii would act check to protect the public
Neither wages nor profits could go above the leve
~aalch the public would pay the counter But
sgpp4y is far behind demand production does mo-
equal consumption. Therefore both laborer and
employer are without the natural restraint of the
aeconosGse Lam in many instances.
= - saas sstaatisu en- alert public sentiment Il