Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-08-12
IN BOAT TOGETHER


Certain labor leaders, even when
demanding an increase Of wages,
have complained that employers are
uniting in concerted action to re-
duce labor to subjection and destroy
the union. If this has measure Of
4 truth we do not know. 1t wouldn't
require much Imagination to suppose
that employers Of labor are by this
time convinced of the unreasonable
ness of the union demands in many
instances. Indeed it is quite ap-
parent that the laEor leaders are
now doing their utmost to aid the
employers if they really are making
the attempt with which labor charges
them.
on every side the feeling Of hos
tlity to the arrogance of the leaders
Of organized labor is so plainly In
evidence as to be source of regret
to those who believe that the per-
manency of general welfare depends
on equitable relations between pro-
ducers and consumers. Intelligent
people are aware of tho need of this;
they know that it is for the inteiests
Of all that labor as we'll as capital
shall have means for self defense.
for UNFOLDING their rights. But they
also have learned by sad experience
that il will not do to permit the
existence Of conditions under which
either capital or labor may demand
and take that which it wants.
Neither may safely be trusted to do
as they notoriously have done and
in some parts of the country are
doing today, they have been the
most unconscionahle robbers the pull
lie ever endured. The invest; cation
In New York City last spring revealed
as sordid and rascally deviltry under
combines in building materials as
ever were conceived. And it is said
this sort of robbery is yet going on.
Nor does it appear that the working
man really profits from it. He is the
victim, as is the consumer, of the
rapacity of those in control. And in
the end he will he an even greater
dure if he turns to politics through
government control for relief. Then
as now he will become the tool of
tyranny.
When the laborcr was struggling
for his fair share in enterprise, When
he was working under great handi-
caps long hours, often unhealthy
conditions. the sympathy Of the pub
lie was with him. He was seen to
he the under dog. He received popu-
lar support without which he could
not have succeeded. Now the public
has become the under dog and must
fight for its existence. The laborer
has lccome the tool in irresponsible
hands ana is being exploited. He
gets higher wages and shorter hours
asa sop but when all is said and done
is his condition so much improved.
Is he getting ahead in the world
Has he pride in his work. in his
skill. in the responsibilities of his
position?
By tuis wc DO not mean that it IS
wholly his fault if he doesn't have
thcse things. We are all in the boat
t"ge'hcr, rs w rlust discover before
III" VOYAGE is ended. The striking
talr"ad sh"pman may feel tho pinch
of the fuol famine. lie deserves it
and IL he has ordinary intelligence
II VIII do him good. lie had his
chance and a fair hearing but he
wanted What he wanted when he
wanted il or his leaders did-and
le viii j." poor sportsman to whine
II The chicken comes home to raost.
But all this doesn't move the fuel
trains, doesn't assure anyone hap
ri.r bones or Il more contonted lot,
isn't conducive to the well being of
anyone. Nor VIII these things be OBJ
tanned by croVdine the laborer We
all have night TO complain If his
ill-cons,dcrcd actions demoan his
position. The welfare Of all is so
closely knit that an injury to part
is an injury to all. and the sooner
organized labor or organized capital
QUITS trying to ride on the public's
neck the better it will lie for all
Of us.