New-York tribune., 1920-08-23
Senator Harding on Labor
From an Interview for The
Outlook With Sherman Rogers

left the Republican National Con-
vention Auditorium in Chicago on the
conclusion Of the tenth ballot, sore at
heart and depressed in spirit over the
defeat of Leonard Wood; not due alone
to warm personal regard for the Gen
eral, but mainly for the reason that
knew, beyond all doubt, that the SOL
dier candidate was friend of labor
However, the die was cast, the senior
Senator from Ohio was nom mated, and
after a few days of thoughtful medi-
tation I decided to have an interview
with Mr.. Harding and learn from act
ual contact just where he stood on the
labor question.
Long before our interview was con-
cluded I had not only formed the firm
opinion that he was four-square on all
vital issues concerning labor and the
. farmer, but I realized that he pos
sessed two qualities that would make
him a great President; namely, cool
head and warm heart
Faith in the AUerage Man
Mr. Harding, with evident sincerity,
opened our conversation by saying:
Il have faith in men; l believe that
the average man is square; | believe
in labor's fairness when treated
squarely and given an opportunity to
become familiar with facts pertaining
to their vocation. If employers would
be more frank with their employees
they would soon find a different feel
ing existing in industry. Working
men should be made thoroughly fa-
miliar with conditions, so that when
an ultra radical comes along, grossly
misrepresenting conditions, the work.
ingman can intelligently refute his
statements. Not being familiar with
the facts in the case, thousands of
honest, we'll meaning men become i'm
bued with the idea that they are be-
ing viciously oppressed; misunder-
standings result, causing trouble that
could be avoided by simple exposi-
ton Ct the truth. The doctrines of
extreme radicalism are founded on
gross misrepres tons, and surely
the best way to meet missta ttments is
to contrast them with the truth. For
eignborn workmen have been held up
to public censure when the public it.
self in a 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. l
firmly believe that if our government
and those interested in our govern
mcnt had taken as much pains to ia
miliarize the incoming foreigner with
American ideals and the liberties that
the Constitution bestows as the radi-
Gals have taken to misrepresent and
misnterpret cur Constitution, there
would be far less trouble in this coun-
try to-day. The loyal support given
by the sons of foreign-born in the
recent war should be sufficient evidence
to convince the most skeptica that this
conclusion is true"
Thinks Labor Vital ProbIer,
was agreeably surprised to find
that the Senator was more deeply in
tercsted 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 intense
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 understanding
far keener and broader than that Of
many prominent industrial captains
whom l have talked with in the last
six months.
Mr.. Harding manifested deep con-