, 1922-08-31
We Are All Worknen

! I'VE HEAR MUCH about labor and much about
w capital. There is n line of demarkation be-
tween them, but why should there be? 1t is placed
Z there by false premises. Diyested of all the fall
acious, untrue and distorted views and notions
with which it is invested in popular fancy where
does the difference come in?
Elementally, the laborer works, the employer
works, capital works. Where is the difference?
Here are three prime interests. They are all en-
gagged in effort for profit. All should have fair
and just proportions of reward. 1t is designed to
work perfectly and tremendously, but u any fail
ure occurs in this regard, the system w,der which
we operate is charged with failure and dissatis.
faction arises. Reason and sound judgment do
not always prevail because we are all human and
the element of selfishness is omitted in but few
of us.
Assuming that we are all workmen, and all en-.
titled to proper remuneration; to capital a fair re-
turn in earnings to maintain the plant OF business
in proper and solvent condition; to the manager,
executive or stockholders, proper salary or wages,
dividends on investment, in return for labor per-
formed or risks incurred; to skilled or unskilled
workmen pay commensurate with ability, ingen-
uity and muscle employed in performing required
tasks.
1t must be admitted, if logic is to rule, that the
system is fair and equitable. Then if it fails, there
is a cause, to be looked for elsewhere. If it is de-
cided that human selfishness lies at the base of
disagreements among those who labor, as 1T is
likely to be, then let us turn to and hammer hu-
man selfishness out of the human system. How?
BY public opinion. The one winning method by
which all things are accomplished in America.
We all want labor 20 be justly rewared, because
most of us are laborers. Those who do not labor
are neither popular nor are they IN the majority.
Their situation is largely to aoquiesce in what the
rest of us do.
We all want labor to be prosperous and obtain
out of earnings the things of life that lift existence
above the level of the hum-drum and the constant
repetition of eating, sleeping and working. For
upon labor depends the well-being and prosperity
of society and the progress of the world.
If our national ideals are to survive and Ameri-
can civilization advance, we have reached the point
where more of justice, more of cooperation; more
of consideration, moro of ~fraternal regard must
be mixed In our daily struggle to succeed and ac-
cumulate.
New and unheard of problems have confronted
uA on the road back to settled conditions since the
war. They have been trying to patience, trying to
purses, trying to the peace and good order of com.
munities in many sections of the country where
local condition have laid heavy hand upon the
people.
We shall survive, and out Of our experience we
should leave valuable lessons in industry and
frugality. We should obtain a more Just apprecia.
ton of the nobility of labor and a moro lust re.
gard toward our fellow laborer.
That present labor difficulties will be moothed
out without harm to labor there is every hope. And
there are favoring condition that long before the
snow flies we will again be proceeding in harmon.
ious accord one with another as was cur wont in
the days before the world upheaval came to dis.
turb our peace and disarrange our economic veal.