The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-12-15

eliminated slavery and serfdOm ana
are far on the way to the elimination
THROUGH the eradication OF illiteracy
and tho diffusion Of education, man
kind has reached a stage where we
NAV fairly say that in the Cn'teo
States equality of opportunity has been
attained. though all are not prepared
TO embrace it. There is indeed. 100
great divergence between the economic
conditions Of the most and least la'.
ored classes in the community. but
even that divergence has not come 10
the point where we bracket the very
poor and the very rich together as
the least fortunate classes. Our Ell
forts may we'll be directed 10 lm.'roV-
ing the status OF both
While this set of problems IS COM
monty comprehended under the gen.
era, phrase Capital and Labor, 1t
is really vastly broader. 1t is a
question Of social and economic organ
ization. Labor has become a large
contributor, through its savings. to
the stock Of capital, while the peo-
ple who own the largest individual
aggregates of capital are themselves
often hard and earnest labOrers. Very
often it is extremely difficult to draw
the line of differentiation between the
two groups; to determine whether a
particular individual is entitled to be
set down as iaborer or as capitalist.
In very large proportion Of cases
he is both, and when he Is both, he
is the most useful citizen.
Rights Of Labor and Capital.
The right of labor to organize Is
lust as fundamental and necessary as
is the right of capital to organize.
The right Of labor to negotiate to
deal with and solve Its particular
problems in an organized way, through
its chosen agents, is just as essential
IS is the right Of capital to organize
to maintain corporations. to limit the
liabilities of stockholders. Indeed. we
have come to recognize that the lin
tied liability Of the citizens as mem
Der of a labor organization closely
parallels the limitation OF llahllty
Of the citizen as stakeholder IN a
corporation for profit. Along this line
Of reasoning we shall make the great
est progress toward solution of our
problem Of capital and labor.
Just as 1t is not desirable that
corporation shall be allowed to I'M
pose undue exactions upon the pup
lie. so it is not desirable that a labor
organization shall be permitted to eX-
act unfair terms Of employment or
subject the public to actual distresses
in order to enforce its terms Finally
just as we are earnestly seeking Tor
procedures whereby to adjust and set
tie political difficulties between ma
tons without resort to war so we
may well look about for means to set,
tie the differences between organized
capital and organized labor without
resort to the forms Of warfare which
we recognize under the name OF
strikes, lockouts. boycotts. and the
like.
As we have great bodies OF law
carefully regulating the organizations,
and operations OF industrial ana
financial corporations. 80 we might
we'll have plans of conference, OF COM
mon council. of mediation, arbitra-
ton and judicial determination In con-
troversies between labor and capital.
To accomplish this would involve the
necessity to develop a thorOughgOing
code Of practice in dealing with such
affairs. with right privileges, i'm
munities and modes of organization
thus carefully defined. it should be
possible to set up judicial or quasi
judicial tribunals for the considera-
tion and determination Of all disputes
which menace the public welfare.
Holds Strike Out OF Place.
In an industrial society such as ours
the strike, the lockout and the boy
colt are as much out Of place and as
disastrous in their results as Is war or
armed revolution in the domain OF pol
itics. The same disposition to reason
ableness to Cancellation. to recogm-
ton of the other sides point Of view,
the same provision of fair and recog-
nized tribunals and processes ought TO
make 1t possible to solve the one set
OF questions as easily as the other
I believe the solution Is possible.
After each war, until the last the
government has been able to give
homes to its returned soldiers, and a
large part Of our settlement and de-
vel0pment has attended this generous
provision Of land for the nations de-
tenders.
There Is yet unreserved approximate
~ 20O.000.000 acres in the public DO
main, 20000000 acres OF which are
known to be susceptible OF reclama-
ZION ana Wdue III LOT uUlIcS Ny PlO-
vision for irrigation.
Point to Swamp Lands
Contemplating the inevitable and de-
sirable increase Of population, there Is
another phase Of reclamation full worthy
of consideration. There are 100000 acres
of swamp and cut-over lands which
may be reclaimed and made as valuable
as any farm lands we possess These
acres are largely located In southern
states, and the greater proportion Is
owned by the states or by private citl-
zens. Congress has report Of the sur
vey Of this field for reclamation. and the
feasibility Is established. gladly recon-
mend federal aid, by way Of advances
where state and private participation Is
assured.
Hc:nemaking Is one of greater benefits
which government can best own. Meas
ures are pending embodying this sound
policy to which we may we'll adhere. It
Is easily possible to make available per-
manent homes which will provide, in
turn, for prosperous American families
without injurious competition with estab-
lished activities or imposition on wealth
already acquired.
There are a full score of topics con-
corning which 1t would be becoming
to address you, and on which | hope
to make report at later ,time.
have alluded to the things requiring
your earlier attention. However, L
cannot end this limited address with
out a suggested amendment to the or
ganic law.
Opposes Nontaxable Bonds.
Many of us belong to that school Of
thought which Is hesitant about alter.
ing the fundamental law l think our
tax problems, the tendency of wealth
to seek nontaxable investment, and
the menacing increases of public debt
federal, state and municipal, all justi-
fy a proposal to change the Constitu.
ton so as to end the issue of nontax.
able bonds. No action can change the
status Of the many billions outstand.
Ing but we can guard against future
, encouragement Of capitals paralysis
while a halt in the growth OF public
Indebtedness would be beneficial
throughout our whole land
Such change in the Constitution must
be very thoroughly considered before sub
mission. l suggest the consideration be-
cause the drift Of wealth into nontaxabl,
securities Is hindering the flow of large
capital to our industry, manufacturing
agricultural and Carrying, until we ar,
discouraging the very activities which
make our wealth.
Agreeable to your expressed desire AM
In complete accord with the purposes o
the executive branches of the govern
ment, there Is In Washington, as 70,
happily know, an International confer
ence, most earnestly at work on plans 70
the limitation OF ornaments and a nava
holiday and the just settlement of prob
lens which might develop into causes 0
international disagreement.
1t IS easy to believe world hope |
centered on this capital CITY, A mos
gratifying world accomplishment is no
| improbable.