Omaha daily bee., 1920-08-23
SQUARE DEAL
UNREST CURE
-.-HAR RDING
Declares Belief in labor's
Fairness When Treated
SquareIy; Urges Frankness
In Stand of Employers.
SAYS MISUNDERSTANDING
PRODUCES MANY RADICALS
Believes Government Should
Familiarize Incoming For-
eigner With American Ideals
And Liberties.


And Liberties.
trhe Bee herewith presents, By
correspondent of the Outlook. In which
re discusses Senator Harding's attitude
toward labor and Industry
/ went to Marion to see whether
Senator Harding believed in the in-
gegrity and loyalty of the men with
calloused hands and overalls. /
wanted to know if he sincerely be-
lieved in labor's sense of justice, in
its loyalty, its ideals and desires.
Long before our interview was
concluded had not only formed
the firm opinion that he was four
square on all vital issues concern.
ing labor and the farmer, but l real-
ized that he possessed two qualities
that would make him a great prcsi-
dent; namely, a cool head and
warm heart
Has Faith in Men.
Mr.. Harding, with evident SIN
cerity. opened our conversation BY
saying:
Il have faith in men; I believe
that the average man is square; l
believe in labor's fairness when
treated squarely and given an OF
portunity, to become familiar with
facts pertaining to their vocation.
IF employers would be more
frank with their employees, they
would soon find a different feeling
existing in industry. Workingmen
should be made thoroughly familiar
with conditions. so that when an
ultra-radical comes along, grossly
misrepresenting conditions. the
working man can intelligently refvts
his statements.
Mistakes Cause Trouble.
"Not being familiar with the facts
in the case. thousands of honest
well-meaning men become imbued
with the idea that they are being
viciously oppressed. misunderstand-
ings result, causing trouble that
could be avoided by = simple ex.
position Of the truth.
s.l'he doctrines OF extreme radical.
;sn1 are founded on gross rnisrepre-
sensations, anS surely the best way
to meet niis-statements is to contras.
them with the truth. Foreign-born
wo-kmen have been held up to pub
tic censure when the public itself. in
p great many cases, is to blame for
not having extended the helping
hand of friendship to the men we
had invited to come to our shores
Should Teach Foreigners.
~ firmly believe that il our gov.
ernnent and those interested in our
go, ernmert had taken as much
pains to iamiIiarize the incoming
foreigner with American ideals and
the liberties that the constitution
bestows as the radicals have taken
to iaisreprcsent and misinterpret QUE
constitution there would be far less
trouble in this country today.
quite true, the foreigner coming
here with the intention of stirring up
violent opposition to our form OF
government should be severely dealt
with; but / am convinced that vass
majority OF immigrants come here
with the intertion of becoming in.
dustrious and patriotic American cit-
izerss.
"The loyal support given by the
sors of foreign born in the recent
war should be sufficient evidence to
convince the most skeptical that this
conclusion is true"
Wants Clear Understanding.
Senator Hatding contended that
more light should be thrown on the
responsibilities that labor owes to
management, that management owes
10 labor, that management and labor
owe to capital, and that manage
ment, labor and capital owe to tn.
public.
| was agreeably surprised to find
that the senator was more deeply
interested in the industrial conditions
OF the country, and especially in the
personal relations between manage.
ment and labor, than any other prob
lem. He manifested the most in-
tense interest, and his answers to
my queries proved to me that he was
thoroughly familiar with the labor
problem, and his conclusions were
based on sympathetic understand
ing far keener and broader than that
of many prominent industrial cap
tains whom | have talked with in
the last six months.
Speaks on Railroads.
Mr.. Harding manifested deep con4
Germ over the railway and coal sit
uation, and spoke at length on the
present critical condition Of our great
distributive system, pointedly re-
marking:
"The present chaotic state of rail-
way transportation should convince
the most radical labor leader that re-
turns to railway management should
be so gagged that necessary capital
may be enlisted for purposes of ade-
quate reconstruction and the paying
of wage increases.
GOOD Pay and Efficiency.
"It also should prove to the most
narrow minded industrial captain ?
that labor must receive an adequate
wage to function properly and guar
antee continuity OF service. A break
down OF the transportation system
plays just as much havoc with cap
ital and management as it does with
labor and the public.
"Yet the public are the ones that
feel its effect most. and labor is the
chief sufferer in the long run. Surely