Public-Mindedness Through Co-operation

Abstract

group organization gains in coherence, articulateness, and social power. Moreover, when efforts to adjust group interests by discussion break down and the consequences are adverse to the good or the convenience of the generality of people, the demand naturally arises to have public interest defined and invoked in ways that penalize those who act counter to it. The problem in economic and laborgroup issues is rendered the more perplexing because the issues which occasion conflicts disturbing public convenience are usually not those which, as someone has said, arise the rules but over the rules. In any specific labor controversy, for example, it may be true that what is fundamentally at stake is a shift in the balance of power among the groups involved. And about such issues, rules, precedents, and absolute guides to decisions do not exist. It is rather the temper of the people and the social sentiment of the times that lead to a general acceptance or nonacceptance of such an effort at alterations in relative group power. At such times and with respect to such specific issues, such shifts in group influence may become embodied in new legislation which sets an acceptable pattern that is subsequently used as the rule under which the game is played. Workmen's compensation was such a new pattern; so too was unemployment insurance; so also is the Wagner Act. A second qualifying factor in identifying and invoking a public interest is the question, at once theoretical and practical, as to whether a public interest is that which results when an agreement has been temporarily reached among group interests which have been in conflict. If the pursuit-hopefully as enlightened as possible-of self-interest by the various economic and industrial groups does in fact result in what is best for society, the problem then is only to get the groups to agree. But if and when a public interest runs counter to, or requires limitations upon, the actions of special interests, the problem is the more serious one of identifying the public interest by having a set of values and standards which are recognizably public.