The Washington herald., 1921-05-02
Speaks for Capital.
commodities

ABOR and capital have been growing in past
l. years, to a wrong attitude toward quantity
and quality of production. There has been antag-
onism, where there should have been cooperation;
pulling apart where there should have been unity
this feature, and mutual suspicion where there
should have been complete understanding.
1t is most gratifying to coming change on
both sides. The United States Chamber of Com
merce at its recent Atlantic City meeting adopted
trinity Of resolutions covering this subject. They
declared against hampering by legislation, which is
always inhexible and quite invariably outgrown by
changing co~iitions which it does not fit. They
declared for >qua opportunity and equal chance
in commerce and industry.
This was further defined as standing for
Wholesome standard of living essential to general
contentment" that this must depend upon "the in
teigencc, work and thrift of the individual citizen,
and improves the total production Of the country
increases" All enterprises must be honestly based
upon Service to the community and that service
can best be estimated by the community and its
wards should not be doled out by laws.
This is statement by and for capital that sell
fshness is not service to the community; that in
creased profits must be used fairly to promote the
good of the community; they must be honestly and
fairly shared recognizing that they do not come
from the effort alone of capital and do not belong
alone to capital nor come alone from labor and do
not belong alone to labor
The wiser labor leaders gradually coming to
the view with a willingness more and more
evident meet capital at least half way. By this
expression the ChamkeI of Commerce is voluntarily
record .as ito the obligations of capital Labor,
on its SIDE is also realizing that the production of
more and still more things of general use, produced
at high speed, not only the greater quantity
to be distributed, but cheaper products broader
buying and the use in more and more homes.
Quantity of production as been recognized by the A.
F. of L. element in fixing wages.
Speeding up, quantity production, has seemed
to labor in former years to have only the object
of larger profits to the employer In some in
this has been justified, and yet, as whole,
the result has been constant increase in the
average wage, the cheapening of products and
greater comfort to the wage Garner. Purchasing
power depends not alone the wage, but on how
much the wage will buy. 1t depends both on the
number of dollars in the pay envelope and what
can be got for the dollars.
Where else in the world are to be found in the
homes of as many wage earners here in America,
the nice rugs on the floor, pictures on the walls,
Victroias if not pianos telephones, books magazines
and newspapers and also automobiles in the garage?
Where else are the workers children all in school,
and as well clothed and fed?
The millennium has not yet come even here
The workers have relatively none too much. They
will steadily advance. But the advance will be
faster they realize what these resolutions state
for capital and that labors effort also must be based
upon Service to the community" of which they
are so large part. They share in the results Of
quantity production, and in their individual effort to
that end As the community gains. they must
and viii gain. and labor is no longer saying bunk"
to the honest effort of employers There is
growing get-together spirit with this community
realization of mutual sharing of gains.