The Coconino sun., 1923-12-21

would not complete the work under
taken. When this happens the state
should intervene, to see that each ob-
tains his own, but not under any other
circumstances.
This mode Of reasoning is by no
means convincing to a fair-minded
man, for there are important consid-
erations which it leaves out of view
altogether. To labor is to exert ones
self for the sake of procuring what
is necessary for the purposes Of life,
and most of all for self preservation
Therefore, a mans labor has two
notes or characters. First of all it
is personal, for the exertion of indiv-
idual power belongs to the individual
who puts it forth, employing this
power for that personal profit for
which it was given. Secondly, mans
labor is NECESSARY, for without
the results of labor man cannot live,
and self-conseryation is a law Of ma
ture, which it is wrong to disobey
Now, if we were to consider labor only
so far as it is PERSONAL, doubtless
it would be within the workman :
right to accept any rate Of wages
whatever, for in the same way as he
is free to work or not, 50 he is free
to accept a small remuneration or
even none at ALL But this is a mere
abstract supposition; the labor Of the
working man is not only his personal
attribute, but it is NECESSARY, and
this makes the difference. The pres
ervation of life is the bounden duty
of each and all, and to fail therein is
crime. 1t follows that each one
has right to procure what is requir-
ed in order to live, and the poor can
procure it in no other way than by
working and wages.
Let it be granted then that as 9
rule, employe and employer should
make free agreements, and in partic-
ular should freely agree as to wages;
nevertheless, there is a dictate of ma
tufe more imperious and more ancient
than any bargain between man and
man, that the remuneration must be
enough to support the wage Garner In
reasonable and frugal comfort. Ii
through necessity or fear of a worse
evil, the workman accepts harder con-
ditions because an employer or con-
tractor will give him no better, he is
the victim Of force and injustice. In
these and similar questions, however
such as for example, the hours Of
labor in different trades, the sanitary
precautions to be observed in factor
les and workshops, etc, in order to
supefcede glldue interfere encc OH the
part of the state, especially as circum-
stances, times, and localities differ so
widely. it is advisable that recourse
be had to societies or boards, or to
some other method Of safeguarding
the interests Of wage-earners; the
state to be asked for approval and
protection.
In other words, fellow Rotarians,
let us endeavor in all things to take
as our standard, be it as employer or
employe, and as members of society
generally, the caption Of our own code
of ethics, with The reading of which
/ will conclude my paper:
"My business standards shall have
in them note of sympathy for our
common humanity. Ny business deal
ings, ambitions and relations shall al
ways cause me to take into consider
alton my highest duties as a member
Of society. In every position in busi-
ness life, in every responsibility that
comes before me, my chief thought
shall be to fill that responsibility and
discharge that duty so when | have
ended each of them, | shall have lifted
the level of human ideals and achieve
ments little higher than, ! found
them"