Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-13
BOSSES" AND WORKMEN.


Labor to Capital, or the reverse, affords an
opportunity for many finely drawn theories
concerning the duty of each. The real ma
ttIre of the relations which should exist be-
tween labor and capital appear to us to con-
slst In combining, as far as possible. the two
interests, and making both work together for
mutual advantage Both are formidable.
and exert an immense influence for good or
evil. The injurious effect which capital can
produce on the welfare of the community is
well shown by the combinations which from
time to time take place in certain branches
OF trade; where by, the accumulation of
large sums for specific purposes, spectators
are enabled to force the market prices of ar
ticles far beyond their actual value. So also
when capitalists coalesce for the purpose of
cheating the laborer of his hire, by depress-
ing wages below the standards of value, or
SO that the necessaries of life cannot be pro-
cured, another example is furnished of the
unjust and general baneful effect which capi-
tai may produce on the people
Labor Is also eXactIng in its demands, at
times and when it fancies it has the sweep
OF the market, so to speak, takes advantage
OF the circumstance like other spectators,
and IN some instances is enabled to carry out
It's objects, in others not depending princi-
pally upon the ability of Capital to with
Stanu the demand made.
Now when we have two great forces Civ
en-, the problem is-how to employ them to
the best advantage. If man builds dou-
ble-cylinder engines he does not set them so
that the power of one shall act against the
other, but he connects both to the same
shaft with the crank at right-angles, opens
the throttle and away they go. Thus it
should be with bosses and workmen; let
each pull on the same shaft each is a
mighty shaft singly, but when their conjoint
relations are deranged, they shake the whole
world. An earthquake does not exhibit
more disastrous physical effects than do
strikes or monopolies, upon the social sys-
TENS of civilized nations. Trades whose in
terests conflict with those of capitalists, or
are made SO to do by the peryersity or short
of the members composing
them, find that in the course of time their
wages decrease instead of increase, and that
their social standing is diminished. Some
trades are afflicted with chronic strike, and
appear to be at continual variance with their
employers.
1T may be in such cases that the wages
are too small to live upon, or the want of
harmony may proceed from other causes too
TO be discussed at present
the reason, it is certain that trades
on the strike cannot get on, be- |
cause the attention of the members compos-
ing them is turned from the trade to other |
objects. Oursympathies are with the work
ing classes, male and female, because capi-
talists are quite able to take care of them
selves, and even if their business is destroy
ed can fall back upon other resources. But
with the labOrer no such course is possible !; |
his capital is his hands and skill, and it is |
for this reason that we deplore strikes and
the results which spring from them. These
results are briefy-destitution of the strik-
ers, bad feeling engendered between the
bosses and men, and disorganization and de-
generally antagonistic to the best
interests of the men themselves. There are
doubtless times when trades are justified and
in self-defence to rebel against the
terms offered by employers but as gene
al rule labor is better paid in this country
han anywhere else on the globe, and a skill
I'd workman can always command hand
some remuneration for his services. The
citations of labor and capital are bound up
n three words-they are identical-and they
should work together for mutual advantage,