The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-30
SAYS
LABOR CAPITAL
MUST BE FAIR
Administration Not in Sym
pathy with Extremists on
Either Side
DISCUSSES SITUATION
Says Those Who Imagined
Him Anti-Lab0r Find
Themselves Mistaken

Helena, Montana, June 30-Presi-
dent Harding declared here last night
| that those who imagined his admin
istration would sympathi3c with pro-
jects for "the deflation of labor and
the overthrow of labor organiza-
tions" have come ''to realize their
error"
Nothing has been farther from
the purpose of the present admin
istration" he said in the tenth pre-
pared address of his Western trip,
an address devoted to the discussion
of labor, social justice and women
in industry.
The President said what his ad-
minlstration had Earnestly sought"
is to lessen the occasion for con-
flict between capital and labor and
to bring to both realization of
the obligation they owe ''to the great
public interest"
Quite frankly the Executive stated
that he knew there were some elc-
ments which had hoped fer " a great
and decisive conflict" between organ
lied employers and organized labor,
and that these elements were not
all on either side of the "imagin-
ary dividing line" between capital
and labor.
"On the capital side of the line"
he said, "were those who hoped that
the administration would lend it.
self to their program of breaking
down organized labor and sending
1T back to the era of Individual bar
gaining for the individual job. On
the labor side of the line were those
who hoped, by exorbitant demands
and an attitude of uncompromis-
ing insistence to force the national
izatlon of some of our most import
ant industries and services. Be-
tween these two extreme groups we
have tried to hold the scales even.
Saved from Extremists
"How we'll have we succeeded? At
least, we have saved the nation from
the extremists of both sides. ! be-
lieve our policy, and it's results,
have reflected the sound Judgment
of the overwhelming majority of the
American people. believe this
people is firmly and finally commit
ted to the ideal of preserving the
fullest rights of private initiative
and private enterprise, together with
the right of organization on both
sides of the line between capital and
labor, and always consistent with
the right of the public to be served
efficiently and at reasonable cost.
owe have come thus far, and thus
fortunately, through the most diff
cult period of reconstruction that
we have ever known. We have been
sheltered against the world storm
of tendency to social revolution. The
best test of policy is by results. BY
that test, we ask no more than a
fair and reasoned verdict on our pro-
gram. We ask that it's results be
compared with the showing, in these
after-war years, than can be pre-
sented by any other country on the
face of the earth.
"For our vindication, we point to
a great nation, it's credit preserved,
its industries crowded to the poin:
of capacity production, its people
employed, its wage scales high be-
yond all comparison with any other
in the world, its banking system
standing as the final bulwark OF
sound money and the gold standard
and it's average level of comfort
and prosperity uneXampled among
the races of men.
eff l could make the fortunate
picture stand out by offering con.
trast, I would speak of Russia and
the colossal failure of its mad expert.
ment. The dissatisfied working
forces of America, where there arc
such, and The parlor theorists who
have yet to create a single thing
useful to aspiring human kind, viii
find there less of freedom, much
less of reward, and little of hope in
much proclaimed emancipation.
~ am making my appeal in thi:
matter to the broadest and best sen
timents of law abiding Americans
everywhere. We must recognize
that. there are some people on boil
sides of this question in who's
minds it is absolutely paramount
Some would be willing to sacrifice
every other consideration of. polio,
in order to have their own way a
to this one. This constitutes one o
the most demoralizing factors in tn
situation.
) ut was very generally believed
I, that the adoption of the Constitu
Continued on Page 81 -