Evening star., 1924-09-01
American Workers Earning
Best Living Wage in His
tory, Union Men Told.
PLEDGES TO CONTINUE
SQUARE DEAL POLICIES
Cites Statistics to Show How Toll
ers Benefit Over Fellows in
Other Lands.

outlining the administration labor
policy 10 group of labor leaders
who lunched with him at the White
House today, President Coolidge de-
clared the government would con-
tinue a course which had resulted
in american wage earners living
better than at any other time in our
history
If anything is to be done bv the
government for the people who toll
for the cause of labor, which is the
sum of all other causes" the Presi-
dent said. lit Will be by continuing
its efforts TO provide healthful sur
roundings, education, reasonable CON
ditions of employment, fair wages
for fair work, stable business pros
perity and the engagement of re-
ligious worship"
Gather Mt White House.
The visit of the labor leaders 10
the White House, their luncheon with
the President and his speech to them
afterWdrd from the south portico of
the White House, was the only out
standing event in Washington's Cele-
bration of Labor day. While organi-
cations arranged the usual outings
labor as whole to celebrate the an
nual holiday
The visit of the labor men TO the
White House was hastily arranged
ana Mr.. Coolidge'S prepared address
sought as declaration of the ad-
ministration's attitude toward labor,
was comparatively brief
Compares Wage Status.
Reciting statistics which he said
show that the American wage
mously greater than that of any
other wage Garner, in the world" Mr
Coolidge declaredA
We do not need to import any
foreign economic ideas or any foreign
government. We had better stick
to the American brand of govern
ment, the American brand of equality
and the American brand Of wages
America had better stay American
We have outlawed all artificial
privilege. We have had our reyolu-
ton and reforms. l do not favor d
corporation government, a bank gov
ernment, a farm government or
labor government. L am for a com
mon sense government by all the
people according to the American
policy and under the American Con-
Stitution.'
Right to Bargain.
Turning to a discussion of his views
on labor. Mr.. Coolidge declared that
the right Of wage -earners to organ
ize. bargain collectively and negotiate
through its own agents had been de-
termined.
Referring obviously to the Railroad
Labor Board. he called attention that
we have been making an interest
ing experiment in relation TO railroad
labor" and added 1T could probably
be modified, through mutual agree
ment, to the benefit of all concerned"
Mr.. Coolidge conceded that in pri-
rate employment the right to strike
goes along with the right to organize
Likewise, he said, the principle of
voluntary arbitration is recognized,
but compulsory arbitration, to my
mind. cannot be reconciled with the
right of individual freedom
Restriction OF immigration and en-
actment of tariff laws are necessary
to preserve American standards for
wave earners, the President con-
tinued, declaring that the present ad-
ministration had sponsored such leg
islation. Likewise. Government econ
omy, he said, is necessary as is the
establishment of peaceful conditions
which will permit of protection at u
minimum cost but by an adequate
Army and Navy"
The full text of the Presidents
speech follows:
Labor day is more entitled than
any other to be called a national hoIi-
day. Other holidays had their origin
in State legislative action. Labor
day had its origin in national legis-
l.fi
taken the lead the States followed. 1t
is, moreover, u peculiarly American
holiday. 1t is a most characteristic
representa- of our ideals. No other
country, l am told, makes a like OBJ
Servance. But in America this high
tribute is paid in recognition of the
worth and dignity of the men and
women who toll.
You come here as representative
Americans. You are true representa-
tives. l cannot think of anything
characteristically American that was
not produced by toll. l cannot think
of any American, man or woman. pre-
eminent in the history of our Nation
who did not reach their place through
toll. | cannot think of anything that
represents the American people a
whole SO adequately as honest work.
We perform different tasks. but the
SDlrlt lS the same. w G are PROUD or
work and ashamed of idleness. With
us there is no task which is menial.
no service which is degrading. All
work is cnnobling and all workers
are ennobled.
To my mind America has but one
main problem, the character of the
men and women it shall produce. 1t
is not fundamentally a Government
problem, although the Government
can be of great influence in its solu-
tion. 1t is the real problem of the
people themselves. They control its
property. they have determined its
government. they manage its buSi-
ness In all things they are the mas
ters of their own destiny. What they
are, their intelligence. their fidelity,
their courage, their faith. Will de-
termine our material prosperity, our
success and happiness at home and
our place in the world abroad.
Nobility of Service.
If anything is to be done then, by
the Government, for the people who
toll, for the cause of labor. which is
the sum of all other causes, it will
be by continuing its efforts to provide
healthful surroundings, education,
reasonable conditions of employment,
fair wages for fair work. stable buSi-
CONTINUED on Page II, Column L.