New-York tribune., 1922-02-18

union labor in Europe, think labor
would not suffer greatly by the COM
parison. 1t must be admitted, how
ever. that the labor leaders have diff
tlcult problem to solve.
First they must convince society that
their aspirations arc not too radical
and arc for the general good of society,
and at the same time they must con-
vince their followers that the leaders
views arc not too conservative and
that they are sufficiently centered on
the direct interests of tho labor class.
found myself exceedingly sympa
thetc with the aspirations of some OF
these labor leaders toward better or
eaNzed economic world. No ono but
the most reactionary Of capitalists
would deny that there have been blind
shortcomings in capitalistic manage
ment. That there are uncxplorcd pos
sibilities in a future in which capital
and labor will cooperate hnrmoniously
Is certain.
Labor Pits Own Mentality
Against Brains of Capital
Labor is not impressed with the idea
that capital has a monopoly of braina
1t feels that it has mind as we'll as
muscle to put into the partnership,
which will so help to increase produc-
ton that the share Of both sides will
be larger than it has ever been in the
past
Labor resents tho theory that wages
should be reduced and that the solu-
tiou lies in longer hours and lower
wages. Instead, they believe that il
lies in The direction Of honest coop
Grafton and the application Of more in.
te!ligence to the task Of world produce
ton.
NJ. Albert Thomas, head Of the Inter
national Labor Bureau of the League
OF Nations, French labor leader, mem
Der OF the Assembly and lntc minister
or the government, is one of the fore.
most exponents of this ncw view of
labor: His work during tho war is ac-
knowledged by every ono to have been
an important factor in tho vast indus
TRIAL effort which co-orJinatcd the
workshops OF France with the effort Of
the men in the trenches.
He summed up for ne what he re.
Garded as the Immediate program of
European unionist labor First, It
must unity labor laws as to hours,
working conditions and child labor
Second, there must be international
agreements for the distribution of raw
materials between the nations; it was
particularly necessary, he felt. TO rcgu-
late the production and distribution Of
coal. Third, improvement in trans
portatlon and the renoval Of the COM
pleH network Of interferencc with the
freedom OF international communcs-
tions must be achieved
Unions Have Veto ou War
And See Necessity of Peace
He was Sharply awake to the danger
thai threatens highly industrialied
nations which have an inadequate do
mestic food supply He deprecated
national tendencies to return to the
views Of tho physocrats to make each
nation wholly self-contained. He
pictured the loss to civilization if ma
tions succeeded in being self f-containcd
economic units, instead of CARRYING
highiy organized economic world, in
when different nations specialized in
producing those things for which they
were best equipped by nature.
A we'll organized cconomic world
must have peace for IT'S fourdation.
Europe is sharply awake to tie horrors
that come upon innocent industrious
people who are highly specialized in
tthslr, craftsmanship, and can live only
tIy py the exchange Of their products, #
the whole machinery Of international
exchange is thrown into confusion hy
Wal That is really what is the mat
ter with Europe. The most intelligent
Of the labor leaders understand the
necessity for peace. In the mind of
organized labor to-day there is 8 new
conception ofs war with which future
statesmen viii have to reckon.
Kings could once declare war; yes
terday It WAS Che duty Of parlaments.
Tomorrow no king or parliament will
ne able with assurance 10 start on 4
road Of hoatilities without consulting
union labor, for under modern cond;,
tons warfare is carried on by means
Of the product Of the work shops. A
war that meets with The dsapproval
OF union labor Nigh. fail because guns
would be left without ammunition.
The industrial effort cannot be COM
manded with the same precision with
which troops are moved in the field
The workrnen Of the Krupp works,
for example, recently struck when an
order for the construction of some
heavy guns was given. They would
not 90 on with the work until it was
explained TO them that the guns were
tor coast defense in a South American
country and their manufacture in Ger
they would make no more guns for
Europe.
Question Of Wage Adjustment
One of the Great Problems
Union labor has a deep conviction
that it can play q political role in
the future with far more effect than
it has ever been able 20 obtain IN
parlaments. If it holds up its hands
and llalts production prime ministers
must reckon with its opinions. A
three days general strike in Germany
changed the course OF political events.
IN the minds. of many capitalists in
both Europe and America there is at
the present time the firm conviction
that labor has not been liouidated"-
that is to say. the high wages secured
during the war have not been suf-
ticiently reduced.
Many capitalistic leaders believe
that the lowering of wages is the most
important element in re-establishinr
production and the interchange Of
goods. European labor believes. how
ever, that the present wages and hours
can be maintained by raising produc-
tor by means of intelligent admins
tratlon on the part of capital to a
point that will support the present
scale.
Their discussions of this point Of view
made me think of q sfrrv prc.;.,or+