Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1922-04-14

The labor problem in It's larger
aspect as the problem Of poverty Is
one of the persistent problems of the
ages. II originated very early at the
dawn of history and has run through
the ages like the proverbial red
thread. At times II has assumed an
acute character and brought society
to the verge Of utter destruction. The
worst phase it ever took on was when
labor was degraded to the status Of
slavery. In some form or other,
labor has always been an object of
exploitation, possibly with the excep-
ton of the Christian Middle Ages,
when it was enthroned in its proper
place and when it received high hon
or and ample protection. AT present,
the old problem has cropped out with
renewed virulence. II bristles with
difficulties, as perhaps never before,
and Is fraught with terrible possibili-
ties of evil.
In recent times the treatment of
labor has been one that swings from
extreme to extreme. We have seen
labor petted and humored and In
every way deferred to. IL after such
an experience it acts as a spoiled
child that should not be cause for
surprise. But the pendulum already
has swung to the other extreme. The
blessings so fervently pronounced on
labor have changed into equally fer
vent imprecations; the praises lavish
ly heaped upon it have turned into
severe rebukes and bitter indictments.
Just at present, labor Is blamed for
many things for which, If II Is not
entirely innocent of them, it shares
the responsibility with others. II Is
taken to task most severely for its
unwillingness TO aid in the readjust-
ment of the nations industry by con-
curing heartily in the reduction Of
its wages. Ii is blamed for what is
called ill-timed insistence on the
closed shop, the labor union and col
lective bargaining. The sympathies
of large sections of the people are
being alienated from the cause of
labor, as the result Of this agitation.
On the strength of this veering Of
public opinion, capital is beginning a
new war on labor and trying to bring
it back to condition of tractable-
ness and submission, which in the
eyes of many is the only proper place
for the workngman.
The worst thing for child are
parents that follow no fixed policy In
education, but that allow themselves
to be inspired by their moods which
change from day to day and even
from hour to hour. 1t is precisely
this attitude and policy, full Of un-
certainty, that genarally prevails In
! the treatment of labor. Such treat
ment is not wholesome. II creates
false expectations and arouses resent
ment.
Rarely does the public get the trutf
concerning labor troubles They ars
mostly seen as through glasses, out
of focus and grotesquely distorted
This for example, is eminently true
in the Virginia mine difficulties. Th'
! public has been treated to one side
of the question, which of course is un.
favorable to labor. The violence OF
labor has come in for round condem
nation. But of the underhandeC
methods said to have been employed
by the operators to break the morale
of the strikers and to goad them u
unlawful deeds, little has leaked out
We remember how lily the Inter,
Church World Commission Steel
Strike Report Jared. Everything wal
done TO discredit its findings. These
are instances that give an idea Of how
things are manipulated and juggiee
| in order to create impressions un
favorable TO the cause of labor. Thes'
| instances, however, are typical. la
Dor has always had a hard time get