The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-18
HARDING FACES
HERCULEAN JOB,
SAYS W..D. REED
Reconstruction Problem Hard
One With Which to
Gain Decision

President Harding probably
faces the hardest task that any
President of the United States
ever faced"
This was one of the statements
made by w. D. Reed in his adj
dress before the regular monthly
meeting Of the Fairmont Industrial
Supervisors Club at the Y. NJ. c.
A. last night.
ut is easy to tear down., said
Mr.. Reed "but reconstruction is
great problem"
] Mr.. Reed said that the worlo
was literally shattered and broken
asunder by the World War and
now the entire world faced the
tedious problem Of reconstruction,
or. as we say in this country, the
return to normally,
In the opinion Of the speaker.
Lloyd George of England Is the
greatest figure on the world stage
today. Despite the fact that his
worth is not appreciated in Eng
land today. by many classes. 1t was
the opinion OF Mr.. Reed that Eng
land would be on the rocks were It
not for this great leader.
The biggest thing on the indus
trial workers mind Is the job for
tomorrow, according to the spcaks,.
after all when We stop to
thing" caid Mr.. Reed It is the
promises and hopes for tomorrow
that makes US able to bare our
backs to the bruises of today In
this life."
A crisis is always reached. tt
was said. when the worker is with
out a job. Two major causes OF
unemployment were outlined by
the speaker, to wit:
IAN IAN tnterdependent
world.
2-The breakdown in the power
Of the purchase.
Speaking along the first premise,
4 Mr.. Reed declared that none
could in this age deny the inter-
dependency of the nations of the
world. The World War taught
America that the old theory that
she could stand aloof from the
world was nothing but q myth.
Europe needs u.s. declared the
speaker" and We need Europe.
The sooner some Of us in America
realize that We do need Europe, the
better off the nation will be.
In discussing a great Industrial
strike that was in progress ut the
time that he had visited Italy last
summer, the speaker declared that
after a time the premier OF Italy
had come forward with a fourply
basis Of agreement, which embrac-
ed the following:
IA living wage to the laborer.
"a living return to capital. af-
ter due allowance for the cost Of
operations.
! 3-The surplus II any. to he d.
vided after that among the work.
crs without respect to brain or
Drawn in the distribution policy.
! 4-That the workingman should
have n voice In the administra-
t;ou OF the business.
The speaker declared that the
strike was not settled exactly on
the basis outlined. He said that he
could hold no brief nor make n
public statement on the wisdom W
proposals three and four, but that
he did hold the princinlca involv-
| cd I'm nronnsalS onn and two ahso-
lutely vital.
He outlined IN detail how the
British government had subsidized
the coal industry in England when
the coal strike broke out there
last year. He told how the gov
eminent by graduated scale had
reduced the wage OF the miners IN
three months with the government,
the miners and the industry all
i bearing q share Of the gradual re-
duction. thus bringing the returM
OF a normal production price with
out sudden and sweeping cut.
i In discussing the coal situation
In this country. he blamed the
helpfulness of the situation at this
time upon two things.
Transportation costs here.
production costs here.
! England he said could ship Goa.
10 Hampton roads and Boston anu
UNLOAD It cheaper than It could be
sent to the same points from the
West Virginia fields. Even from
the mines Of Wales coal could be
shipped to Havana cheaper than
from the local fields.
This could be explained in part,
he said. by the fact that when
England sent her ships here with
coal. they took back cargo or
merchandise, while when our ships
INVENT abroad with coal they
brought back only little bag Of
gold.
production In England had been
reduced over As per cent since the
war, while peak production costs
still existed in this country.
I The speaker expressed the hope
that some immediate relief might
be had from the situation In th's
country.
Lighted the audience with three
vocal numbers. She was accom-