The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-27
Labor and Capital-Their Relations


be overestimated A Labor Congress, ,so-c called,
dustrial organizations throughout the country,
has just been held in Baltimore. The "eight-
hour" movement is being agitated far and
wide. Trade Unions and Associations are
springing up on every hand Strikes, when
they occur, are becoming more thoroughly
organized, and are more persever,ngly prose-
cuted than in former years.
All these things indicate that the relations
Of labor to capital are becoming more and
more a subject OF earnest thought with the
masses of the people. This is in part ex-
planned by the peculiar condition OF our
country induced by the war; the prolonged
suspension OF specie payments having so
completely unsettled the old measures of
values as to render new adjustments of prices
every few months inevitable. But this is
rather the occasion than the cause of these
agitations Of the labor question, that we find
prevailing not only in our country, but more
or less all over the civilized world.
At the very bottom of this subject we en-
counter the selfish instincts OF humanity,
clashing with each other. The laborer has
his labor to SELL the capitalist is in the market
to buy, and each is intent on driving a good
bargain-the one to sell as dearly as he can,
the other to buy as cheaply as he can. We
will not say that deeper view on the part of
each would reveal the fact that their real
interests are harmonious, not antagouistic;
but so long as each persists in regarding the
other as his natural opponent, the effect on
the parties is the same as though such were
indeed the case. The interests of labor and
capital being thus tacitly assumed to be anita
gonistic, each party is ready to regard any
reform proposed by the other as hostile
measure. We thus have perpetual warfare,
as it were, between the elemental forces of
production. Neither can get along without
the other, and yet neither regards the rights
or interests of the other. On the side of
labor, the hard hand of necessity, of existence
itself almost, at times, urges on the struggle.
On that OF capital the excitement of compe-
tition, the desire OF acquisition, and the pride
of conscious power and position, all add in-
teusity to the strife.
at this time the most obvious phase of
this long-protracted struggle Is the endeavor
to lessen the hours Of labor, known popuiarly
as the "eight-hour movement" Or course,
tie fundamental idea of this movement is to
receive the same amount of money for a
days work of eight hours as is now received
for one of ten, or to get more wages Tor less
work. Whether this end can be achieved
depends more upon the principles of political
economy than upon the action of legisla-
tive bodies. Moreover, it can hardly be re-
garded as a distinctive question between
labor and capital, inasmuch as from the neces-
sites of the case, its application can only be
made to a limited class OF laborers. Almost
all skilled laborers work by the piece, as in
that way their personal skill and aptitude
receive the largest remuneration. Farm
laborers in the busy seasons of the year can
not avoid laboring more hours per day than
during the short days and dull work of win
ter. House servants, and that whole class of
laborers, cannot divide their time into days
works OF specific number of hours. So, too, all
laborers-and they are q very numerous class
in our own countrywide work for themselves
have no interest in the limitation of the
hours of labor. When all these classes are
deducted, we find that the sum total of
laborers has been much diminished. Still,
there is very large class OF operatives who
are interested in the movement, and who
will do all that they can to make it success.
But the real problem at the bottom of the
conflict between labor and capital, is how to
secure q fair dipiSiOn of the profits arising
from their joint exertions. This, it will be
seen, is altogether different question from
that OF the number OF hours which shall con-
stitute days work. 1t is not the amount OF
labor but its remuneration which Is the CHIEF
thing of interest. To diminish the average
amount OF labor performed is merely to di-
minish the aggregate amount Of production.
The direction in which we are to look for
the final solution OF this great problem is un-
dOubtedly that Of cooperation between labor
and capital. There are thousand branches
of industry ip which this principle may be
introduced with the most beneficial results
Some recent statistics and accounts of Co
operative establishments in England are O.
the highest interest, and show an astonishing
degree of success, The matter is engaging IL Z
careful attention OF many OF the more
thoughtful OF our American laborers, whe
behold in this principle the readlest and mos
practical Aolntion of the difficulties of theil
position The question is one OF interest L
the stateepnan as well as to the philRnthroplst