Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1865-11-17
Conflict. between Capital and Labor.

One cannot i've without the other. and
tbs nuisal dependence cannot BE- disturbed
without positive injury 20 both. Capital
cannot make = crusade against labor. ncith-
er can labor var against capital without a
rvact'On 70 the iniurv Of The aggressive par
~. Notwithstanding these immutabic laws.
conhicts between the two are quite common.
This j. seen in the q" strikes" for higher
paw and less hours q labor. Which q the
present time arr seen in different parts 81
the country. The "ten hour svstern~ Of
lsbor k.s fo- sone several years past. seem
Ell 20 have been a satisfactory compromise
between employers ard their help: bet ~
GENTLY in some Of our own cities and large
towns. laborers are inaugurating " strikes"
% bring Il down 90 eight. There nav &c
some VERY good reasons in favor % this
movement. but IL cannot be denied that
there are veighiy Arguments against Il.
Labor Itself. = the poor mans capital and
nyoa stnke out Of existence oHe-ffli II az
fis iabor IN tie oouufry. sou ncccessarily
destroy one-6fih Of the whole laborin- cap
itAl Of the country and tie country j. that
smoun; The poorer. i, may be said tbc Ia
borcrs Of the country can Get just a. much
pay for the eight hosrs. a. thew nov receive
for the ten Tbs j. begging The question.
mere assumption destitute Of proof II
tie policy Of the - eigh; hour nien sbouii
prevail. one Of two results woaid follow.
either capitalists would cut down ,he paw.
or II thev failed 20 40 that. would employ
less labor.
II agricultural labofers demand 80 much
pay and work 50 few hours. that the farmer
oanno, hive without taking all tie proceeds
u hrs farm 20 pay his help. be vsli either
abandon bis farming or DO a good deal less
Of u. just 50 Nth The mechanic. n De- can
not hir~. without grown. poorer by The
operation. be vili quit employing heip. DO
What be can himself ard let the resi 20.
The truth Is. bu; comparatively few persons
are compelled TO employ labor: The general
ruie -. that thew DO Il a. matter q profit
or gain. Ga the other band IL cannot Dc
denied. that in times past capitalists and es-
Pccially manufacturing corporations have
undertaken 10 Cypress their operatives.
both in The redsciion Of their rsy and ~
curing them 20 work an unreasonable nun
Der Of bOurs per day and uany q the
- strikes" among their operatives IN our
large manufacturing places have been justi-
fable. In many q Tie States the Iegisla-
tures. have vjr;ually in;erfcrrcd in behalf q
the lshorer. by making ten hours a legal
DAYS work. Oar own State las law upon
the Statue Book. Revised statutes Chap.
-. sec So providing tia; 90 Ia az con-
tracts FOR labor excepting by the month
and agricultural employmenis) ter hours o.
actual labor shall be legal days work IN
less the contract siipuiafes for a longer
time Wien labor j. scarce and wages
high. the laborer has the advantage Of h,s
euploycr, when it j. plenty and wages IoE.
rios r0sa. h's employer has che advantage
over hin. Bat no matter ~hirb ~sv. tbc
balance turns. The muiuaiifr q interest De.
tween them can never o. DESTROYED One
thought more. There can never g. a con-
fict between capital anl labor without a
positive injury O. the pubiic Both are in.
tisPcnsable 20 the material prosperity cd
the country and ifs resources can never be
developed except BY harmonious acfion be-
tween the tEo. OR forest oaks and pine.
would grow and then mouidcr 90 enrich
their native soil. did nor the hand q! labor
convert them into SHIPS. and then would rot
Al our ~harscs could no gallant tars o.
found to man them every bui,dins uhetber
the magnificent mansion or the bumhie cot
tage. which fails - 90 Up by Disagreement
between employers and employees i. a mate.
rial loss % thc state. ard every spindle ard
loon that Tres dead through the contentious
bct~ern capital ard labor enhances the
prices ne have 20 pay for cotton and wool
- fabrics. Reasoning from these premises
the stubborn fact forces itself upon every
aans conscience ard Judgment. that har-
monioos seton befseen wealth snd in4-s.
try not only promotes the private interest.
% bofh The parties immediately interested.
BATH . tbe great motive power whicb moves
country on % material poser ard great
ness
HoSoEs To KuF.rnicK. The Journal.