Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-06-11
TO EMPLOYERS AND OTHERS.

The situation in Albuquerque with regard to Ia
Dor is not essentially different from that problem
elsewhere in the United States
The present conditions were primarily precipl-
tated by the attitude of the employer toward the
employee This statement is in explanation Of present
conditions rather than an excuse for them
with few exceptions there no premeditated
plan to harm labor Nevertheless the result of the
system followed resulted in the grossest injustice
All this was chiefly due to a lack of enlightenment
on the part of employers 1t was negative, rather
than positive, badness.
systems Of doing things grow up without any
wen defined conscious effort on the part OF people
to give direction to them. We largely take things
as we find them and conclude that they are the ac-
copied and proper way of doing
The very character of the bringing up OF the
average American of generation or more ago
tended TO such acceptance of conditions as he found
them reverence for parents took the form OF
feeling that what father thought about thing must
be right; that the business principles which he pur-
sued were the proper ones for the son to pursue
our reverence God was largely made to take the
form of submission to the will of Divine Prov
idence God presumed to be the Author Of
Things including economic and political sy5-
TENS Men submitted their environment as in
evitable. The man who was compelled to WORK
with his hands for such wage as he could get was
presumably, not favored of Providence as was his
more fortunate brother. 1t was ali thought to be
inevitable. To think otherwise required an effort
and not popular.
We know now that God works through economic
laws and that men are the vehicles for progress.
We know that what is need not necessarily be right
that progress and ameloration of hardshlps are IN
accordance with Divine plan and desire. We know
now that we should turn mind and heart toward
remedying the problems of inequalities.
1t is clear enough now that man cannot con-
l,,y nfS nd
settle the price paid for labor, laborer is not a
machine; he is human and entitled wages which
will properly support his family, educate his chill
dren, supply relaxations and make possible with
prudence, a competency for old age. The STANDARDS
of all this will vary with ability but should never
submerge him.
The religious rebellion of labor in the past gem
Grafton is primarily a rebellion against the religious
philosophy of the age which demanded submission
10 the so-caed Divine Will Men unwilling
longer to submit and found that refusal to submit
10 environment Immediately improved the environ
ment.
such a rebellion should"have been against the in
depreciation the age was putting upon religion in
stead of against religion itself
Likewise men rebelled against submission to
economic and political environment. Many Of them
are in mental rebellion against our institutions.
Their rebellion should be directed only toward the
unfair phases of evolution.
All of which brings us to this Employers and
others, not of the labor world, should take synpa-
thetic notice of all inequalities, both of work
ing conditions and other economic injustices. In
this we should begin at home. Are your employees
as well paid as justice demands? Are their working
conditions fair? If not now is the time to take the
beam of your eye before you try to take
the mote out of your brothers eye He who seeks
justice must do justice.
Are we not many of us, temperamentally selfish
and reactionary? There many things which
could be done to better conditions if would but
liberaze viewpoint.
To demand justice at the hands of the unions
without granting it will only increase the friction
Necessary and just concessions will be Wrung from
us If do not freely grant them.
Everybody should broaden his view to include
the other mans standpoint. Our personal welfare
is inevitably wrapped up in the general welfare
whether we too narrow and selfish to see it or
not. But we must it, The future of America de-
ponds upon it.
With such an attitude and record may, un-
embarrassed, look labor in the eye and demand that
it be reasonable Sef-rghteousness is a poor view
point from which to start