Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-05
TOLERANCE NEEDED IN
ny Frederic J. Haskin.

washington. Aug. 6.-Tolerancc Is
a virtue too little practiced In labor
disputes by the parties directly con
ccrned and BY tho public which euf-
fers inconvenience. hardship or ac-
tual loss as result OF the contro-
versies. Incorporate condemnation
Of one side by the other or by out
siders In altogether too common.
Facts are uisetated or distorted
through passion. Opinions are based
on preiudices rather than on infor-
nation and sound Judgment ana con
ciusIons are formed that arc prema-
ture and Ill-ndvised.
These are statements made by a
man whose profession has brought him
into close contact with the conflicts
tetween capital and labor for sew
eral years. lie went on 10 say that
one of the great needs OF the present
time Is not only better understand
| Ing between employer and empioye
hut better understanding by the pub
lie Of the problems of industrial rela
tions. In fact, until an enlightened
and sound public opinion has ben es-
| tablished there In little hope for any
thing even approxirnatlng permanent
| Industrial peace.
Hence it is urged that the citizen
who Ia sufficiently Interested TO dis
cuss the railroad strike or the coal
etrike. and To express his Views with
respect thereto, should take paine q
inform himself an TO the essential
facts In connection with these grea'
.,g4
been Inconvenience by the dislocatior
In the transportation industry doei
not Justify the conclusion that seithei
railway workers or railway manage
ments are wholly at fault. Nor doe
his finding himself with an empty coa
bin with winter at hand warrant al
off hand judgment against either tn
miners or the operators. In an!
event, damnine and execreting on
side or the other viii not help him no
anybody else.
Free and easy criticism Of publ
officials who are dealing directly witt
these controversies Is another evil o
which complaint Is made, az ~ mill
tates against the creation of that in
ttilIgent popular sentiment that shoui
support those in authority These of
acials are condemned for inaction o
for whatever action they may take
and all this without rirne or reason.
Presidents Trying Position.
) For example. President Harding
position with respect TO the rail an
coal strikes II especially difficult an
> trying. According to their persona
preiudlces people denounce him f.
fnvoring labor or capital or for faiIur
. to adopt extreme measures that er
peal to tho individual as highly dt
!, sirable and sficecious. How often
!, the expression heard I'D like 70 !
In Harding's place about "a hours
I'd show emf" And how seldom has
those who indulge in such expression
thought out ways and means of doir
v what they advocate or considered q
u the possible consepuencesi
Y Taking over the railroads or Il
l. mines, or making men work aeain
+ their will. or putting an end 10 lay
less outbreaks, ara talked about as
N they we're simple tasks that the Pres
dent could undertake and dispose
= any morning between appointment
X with his Cab,ne. Ministers. Ssttlir
n strikes is discussed as IL IL could
q accomplished by executive fat. Usir
a the army is advocated as II &c were
a mere matter of calling out the poll
reserves to quell a near-riot amoi
p baseball fans.
Most unreasoninR and unreasonat
- OF all. structures arc parsed upon {
!, President that are predicted on [
assumption that ne is Indifferent a
uninfOrmed. As q matter of fact
could not be- Indifferent IL ho so {
sired and no one is in n position
DO so well informed as he Is. This
not only true OF Mr.. Harding. but
would be true of any man who
cupied the executive chair.
Taking sides is characteristic
the American people. They do It
sports. In politics. in religion and p,
Hcularly in labor controversies. a
A. there ia nothing hsf-hearted in
way they do It. Having eApousod
cause or an idea the average m
wants the wide, wide world to kn
ii that he IS right, why he IL r-ght, a
Il what he thinks of the other side.
II is free thinker and he believes and
/ dulges In free speech. He is 80 cert
/ Of mis- own convictions and opinii
II that he has little respect and !
tolerance for those OF others.
HI Examples Of Prejudice.
III A man Of great responsibilities
Il the Industrial world once INDUCED fl
| TRADE against labor unions in e
III eral and labor leaders IN nartic1,t
1 lie was so vitriolc and so sweep
! in his denunclation that one OF
/ hearers finally asked him IL It W
II possible that there were no good n
III