Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-01-15
OUR LABOR PROBLEM.

There is now meeting in Washing
ton City a commission named by the
president to investigate carefully the
whole relationship between capital
and labor and recommend means for
putting the whole question Of wages
upon another footing"
1t was expected that the president
would lay before this commission
some general scheme of adjusting in
dustrial relations on a new and better
basis. 1t is possible that he has made
such recommendations. Also it is
possible that he has no concrete
scheme thought out, and is leaving it
for the commission to develop some
thing as the investigation proceeds.
That there is something wrong with
the present relationship of capital and
labor goes without saying, Something
better should, be found-something
that will not result in almost continual
conflicts TO the injury of the public
The problem OF the laborer is the
problem of every individual who has
not accumulated enough capital 10
make himself safe from want when old
age. sickness. or accident comes That,
consciously or unconsciously is back
of every radical movement in the
world today. Those of us who have
10 depend upon salaries or wages for
existence from month to month, are
alarmed for the future and rot with
out reason.
There is a growing demand That
cause for that alarm be eliminated IL
can be eliminated; but labor unions
and collective bargaining, whatever
their virtues. do not provide The rem
edy Nor has capital shown vision
enough to solve the problem.
Men must have opportunity during
the time they are able to "otl: 10
provide against the time when trey
cannot earn. The easiest way TO
reach. that condition IS through old
age. accident and health insurance
ii should be compulsory Part of the
premiums for such insurance should
come from the wages and salaries OF
the employe, part of it should come
from the Golfers OF the employer, and
mart of it should be provided for by
the government from taxation. IL
should not be optional with the IN
diyidual. Too many of us haven't the
ability TO save, even when we have
tho opportunity. The temptation 10
get rich by investing whatever sums
we can get our hands on in oil stocks
is TOO great. Also we like to spend
our money for MANIFESTATIONS, we
find il more pleasant to have luXuries
than to practice the self-denial nee
essarv to laying aside money for a
"rainy day
CAPITAL has been exceedingly stupid
1t has not tried, except in the case oil
a few of the great corporations TO
make its employees safe against
want. Furthermore, capital has not
been aware of the distress of nina
caused by the knowledge of every en-
ploye that he may lose his job at any
moment and be forced to look for an
other. without knowing where he VIII
find it, or whether he can flnd one al
all.
In the old days of chattel slavery
the slave was assured of enough 10
live on-shelter, food and clothing as
long as he lived. He was slave to a
master who in return for his lanor
provided for his future. He had
living. The wage worker and the
average salaried man have a living as
long as their job lasts. They are
slaves to the job, and the job may enc
at any time.
This is a condition which must Dc
remedied, and capital will be exceed
ingly short-sighted if it does not show
willingness to pay the pnce heceS
sary 10 provide the remedy Because
the very existence of capital is nov
in jeopardy.
- $500 ,onnrtc that thi