Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-09-06
HARDING URGES
LABORAND.CAP-
TAL ARBITRATE
Continued from page ~

which ] meant to repeat. Noting the
advanced ground reached through the
sufferings and sacrifices Of the World
war. l said we contemplated a new
level, a new order, and would never
return to the old prc-war conditions.
No such return has ever been recorded
in all history. I spoke of the high
wages, and said | wished the existing
high scale to remain, on one explicit
condition-that- for the high wage, the
American workman shall give to his
task the highest degree of efficiency
There isn't any other solution. There
isn't any other way to keep wages high
and lower the cost of living to any ap-
probable degree.
The menace of the present day is
inefficient production. / am not adj
vOcating the driving, slavish period OF
toll, which saps mems energies and
Expresses the spirit, but l do advocate
honest, efficient return for proper pay.
l hold that the Stacker, the loafer on
the job, is not only the greatest OBJ
staclc to labOr's advancement, but he
is cheating his fellows more than he
does his employer. The workman who
deliberately adds to costs rObS a fell
low workman who must buy, and i'm
pedcs the way to that ideal condition
where wage exceeds the cost Of living,
and there is a balance for the bank
account, for home requirement and in
diligence in amusement, diversion and
the becoming luxurics which contribute
to the ideal life.
Let No One Beguile You.
Let no one beguile you with dreams
of idleness, of the passing Of employ
ment, or the obolition of employer and
cmployc. Life without toll, if possible,
would be an intolerable existence. Work
is the supreme engagement, the SUI
blimc luxury of life. And there will
be employers so long as there is leader
ship among men, and there will be EN-
ploycs until human progress is paralyz
ed and the development of human kind
dies on one common altar OF medioc-
rity Our problem then is to find 1.-THE
highest ordc" of employment, the ideal
relationship, the conditions under
which we may work to the highest at
tainmcnt and the greatest common 80 I'd
for all concerned.
1t is utterly false to assume shat
labor and capital are in deadly con
hict. Such prcachment comes from
those who would destroy our social
system. More, these two elements do
not constitute alone the fabric of our
industrial life, and neither Of them,
alone, ever added to the treasure of
The element of management
is as essential to present-day industrial
success. amid modern complexities, as
breath to the human body. And indis-
soubly linked with these three is the
consuming public.
Each Essential to Other.
1T is not important to establish, viii ii
element comes first, since each is cS-
Scntial to the other. We do know that
labor, the human element, is of deepest
public concern. Hence it is that Ama!
lean public opinion, which is invariably
the ruling force in popular government
wehn deliberately crystallizcd, wishes
the labor forces to he satisfied, Mo-
because contentment is i'lc
awaiting avenue to paralysis, but 81
satisfied that there is soul of interest
in all our employments.
Tho Big Inspiration.
The big inspiration in life is to get
on. We can not get on all alike or he
rewarded precisely alike. God Al
mighty never intended it to be so, else
He had made us all alike. But we may
get on according to our talent. our ca
pacity, and our industry. and out of the
advancement of those who lead, must
come higher standards fOrNall.
| have no patience for those who
commend the levels of mcdiOcrity. That
would halt the whole human process
sion As look into your faces. | can
read the aspirations in many breast
Search the hearts of the parentho0d in
this assemblasc. Fathers and mothers
are thinking of their children, and they
want them to get on. They often deny
themselves to educate their children
and ultimately find compensation in
that denial. They educate so that
sons and daughters may do better than
tlcy-it is the NATURAL desire Of aspir-
ing life. This is why the world adj
vanccs This is the soul of advancing
civilization When men tell you this is
the privilege of the few. they challenge
your Intelligence. 1t is the opportunity
of all. Not all avail themselves, but
the opportunity bcckons.
| wish | could plant the gospel OF
IN ,,.,,l- and intnrnct in