Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-05-01
LEONARD WOODS
STAND ON LABOR
It's Problems and Those Of Capt.
tai Interdependent
man Not a Commodity.

Leonard Wood thoroughly compre
hends the interdependence OF capita
| and labor. When they are at odds
with each other disaster results; wher
they are united prosperity is the out
come. There is no man in America
better fitted to express views Of prac
tical value on this subject than Wood
because as an administrator in various
parts Of this country and in Cuba and
the Philippines he has been confronted
by every phase Of the labor problems
The tact and broad sympathies he has
displayed when recently called upon to
handle misunderstanding between cap
ital and labor in the acutest forms In
the steel districts at Gary and in the
coal regions Of West Virginia qualify
him to act as leader in the growing
movement looking toward a permanent
adjustment Of all disagreements be-
tween the capitalist and the working
man. Wood says:
I'VE must do all we can to encour-
age good business, whether It be big
business or small business. II it Is
good business and beneficial to the
public It is worthy Of encouragement |;
If it is bad business we must control It
and regulate 1t. Good business means
prosperous labor, and this means in
creased production, and nothing must
be allowed to interfere with ample
production. It Is the real remedy for
the high cost Of living. Limitation on
production Is an invitation to disaster
disaster which strikes first the poor,
but eventually affects all. We cannot
consider business and labor separately.
They are interlocking and interde-
pendent We must spread the war
burden over a much longer period Of
years than at present contemplated.
The present excess income tax is para
Lying initiative. It Is strange hold
upon the throat Of business which
must be relaxed II American business
is to have that initiative which will be
necessary to give US our share in the
worlds trade. We must do everything
we can to help on good business, for on
1t depends national prosperity.
labor and capital in this country
must work together in order to meet
the problems which are going to follow
this worlds war. We do not wish an
autocracy Of either capital or labor,
but real democracy in both, charac-
terized by a spirit of cooperation and
helpfulness. We must inject more Of
the human element into our relations
with those about us, whether they be
our associates or our subordinates-
more gathering about the table and
discussing matters fully and frankly.
Labor Not a Commodity.
I'VE must recognize that the work.
ingman is neither machine nor a
commodity, but that he Is a collabora-
tor with capital. Individual capacity
and ambition must receive encourage
ment and recognition. The employer
must recognize the dignity and status
of the worker and give him every con-
sideration due. The closest possible
contact and the fullest understanding
should be maintained between employ
er and employee. Arrangements for
the adjustment Of grievances must be
provided which will work smoothly
and promptly. We must do all we can
to improve the workers. living condi-
tons, to make his surroundings decent
and attractive to himself and family,
His hours of work must be such as to
give him an opportunity for reasonable
recreation with his family during the
hours Of daylight He should receive a
wage that not only permits him to keep
body and soul together, but enables
him to lay by something for the future.
If these conditions are to be obtained
and maintained labor must recognize
that high wages can only be main
tanned under conditions Of high pro-
duction and high efficiency. Capital
must be paid in accordance with the
risk Of the enterprise. Those who d.
rect and plan must be paid adequately,
labor must be adequately paid, and
after this, If anything remains, comes
the question Of an equitable distribu-
ton. Many Of the more progressive,
intelligent and farseeing men are al
AW hAA4n ninfY IN rr@~ 1nk S~3
patton in this surplus share varying
with its amount.
1.-THE main thing is for labor and
capital to pull together in the present
great crisis, remembering that only
through cooperation and frank and
full understanding and mutual conces-
sions can the wheels Of industry b
kept going"
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