Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-09-06

the best in the world There is only
a touch of satisfaction to say our out
put is biggest, but it sets the hear,
aglow to proclaim Americas output Is
the best.
Sorry for Its Passing.
I am sorry the old, intimate con
tact between employer and employc il
gone. When there was intimate tOucl
there was little or rare misunderstood
ing. l wish we could have the init
macy restored. not in the old way, but
through joint committee of employers
and employees, not to run the business
but to promote and maintain tho
mutually Of interest and the fullest
understanding. Herein lies the sures1
remedy for most Of our ills. Nay
more, ! will put it more strongly,
have spoken the prevcntivc-the under
standing which prevents disputes, OF
settles them Oh the spot.
Why Not About Table First?
Our observation is, as an emiTent
labor leader has said, that "all strikes
sooner or later are settled around the
table: then why not get around the
table before the strike begins!"
We can not have compulsory arbi-
tration, because all parties must con
sent to establish arbitration and eli
force its conclusions. / think we car
have. and ought to have, volitional ar
bitration. The best thought of the day
commends this way to settlement.
Governments Hands Full.
The government must do many
things, but it has enough to do without
invading the field of private activity
not. at any rate, until government dem
onstrates its capacity for efficiency.
l do not pretend to say the railway
act is perfect. indeed. know it is not
But cognrcss was dealing with a prob
lem of first Importance, and it had tC
specd the legislation. There was the
conflict of many minds as it was right
there should be, and the final act was
Il compromise. Nevertheless, l believe
it to be a good law, and, cordially sup
ported ii. Many railway labor leaders
have cried out against it, but l can
only wonder why, except for the fun
damental objections to the release OF
government operation.
1t does not guarantee dividends. il
limits them. 1t did make Il six months
guarantee, but thai WAS ~ c.auic lic
stupcndUus financing for rehabilitation
There was no ample upkcep during the
war, and the public is suffering today
from railway inadequacy.
An Inalienable Right.
This law does not contain an anti.
strike clause. You can not take away
from any man the right to quit hi
employment, but it does aim ut tho
prompt, instant grant Of justice, full
justice; and justice, men, is the best
guarantee of all civilization. 1t does
not interfere with collective bargain.
ing OH the contrary it facilitates 1t
More, The brief experience already had
proves that congress has provided tho
way TO immediate hearing Of the griev
anccs of railway wOrkmcn and prompt
compliance with their just demands
No labor in the world today is so for
tunatcly situated as that Oh the Amer
lean railroads.
Let us try out the act and the rail
way restoration in patience. If we have
fallen short, the conscience of America
will sanction every modification need
ed to aim at perfection. America want'
her railway workmcn justly treated
and will tolerate nothing less, ant
America wants her honest investments
properly protected, with justice t.
every agency employed in this grea
machine of railway transportation.
The Protective Policy.
l said parties were always concern
ed with the welfare of labor. The Re
publican party had its birth to free tho
slave labor of America. Instantly il
turned to insuring conditions to affOrt
the abundance Of employment.
l believe in the protective polio!
which prospcrs America first, and ex
ats American standards of wage anG
American standards of living higl
above the Old world. We had LITTLE
thought of these things during the war
because America was exporting instead
of importing shipping out instead Of
shipping in-but it will soon be a diff
fercnt situation in the world exchange
do not object to humanity seeking
cqualiZcd standards Of employment and
living. but do insist in Old world
Standa rds being raised to ours, not ours
lowered to the Old world.
To Reduce Living Cost.
Many other things will help to reduc,
living cost. l want to see prOfteerinl
;..,I,tn,I aud a, ,,,.,~oI