The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-07-21
SOCIAL STANDARDS

att The annual reports of the Director of the In
ISL tenational Labor Office Harold Butler have been
looked forward to from year to year both for their
Al keen analysis of world trends and for their dis
tlo corning Interpretation of social progress. The L.
fa L. o. has become world center into which flows
re information representative of events in all lands
Through conferences, reports, personal contacts
A. the head Of the organization acquires skill in keep
qu ing knowing hand on world currents The l. L..
O. is developing into the most important agency
ie created by the Versailles Treaty-a development
tn due, Mr. Butler says, to the fact 'that social
&c progress is no longer looked upon as incidental
d to the economic system but as it's primary OBJ
&C jective.'
An important change of the quarter of CEN
~ ~ tury since the World War; Dr. Butler summarizes
as follows:
7" countries are no longer working basis
OF laisseZ-faire. TO varying eXtents Governments
o. are now deliberately intervening in the economic
sphere, the systems in operation ranging all the
boz way from complete State management to discreet
til Government action applied to the regulation of in
ternatonal trade, the control of money and credit
= and the support of industries especially in need
n of help"
Social progress is possible a broad front
! when economic controls are internationally Co
ordnated
between employers and employees but in increasing
t opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
i Universal peace requires an approach to great
er economic intercourse between nations.
Labor legislation is only a. partial remedy for
the social evils the |. l.. o. created to combat.
There are involved all the wider problems inherent
i'm stabizing income and raising the standard of
life to civilized standards everywhere.
Equally interesting is the Directors statement
that world centers had shifted from Europe to
the Americas and the East. Industrial production
is no longer centered in Europe. Other significant
s. trends in shifts in relative Importance
in world trade. Now there is also shifting in
q balance and merging of thought and experience.
In reviewing economic progress the Director
reports decline in unemployment and increase in
employment. In Europe ma or stimulus to en-
ployment has been armaments-while depression
returned in the United States Competition be-
tween national defense and trade felt all
sdes-a tendency that retards prosperity. En-
plOyment in munitions has resulted in lengthening
of hours in two countries. Higher wages in prac-
tcaly all countries indication of return
ing prosperity and higher real wages in all coun-
tries except Germany evidence of social prog
ress. In addition to better wages and hours, the
extension of social insurance is additional evidence
of social progress.
Three interesting undertakings that are under
way under the auspices of the international Labor
Organization are international regulation of i'm
migration, higher standards of vocational edll-
cation, and inclusion of the problems of agrcul-
tura workers with those Of industrial workers.
The work of the International Labor Organiza-
ton is entering upon second phase, of which the
shift in balance Of influence is symbolic Another
reflection Of this shift is the election of citizen
of the United States as Director of the l. l.. O.
John G.. Winant.
Present indications of greatly increased activ-
ity on the part of the organization most graft
flying.