New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-01-20
One OF the "Questions of the Times :"
Labor and Capital. &c.


To tie Editor If The " y. Tribune.
SIR: The. attention bestowed on this subject
through your columns edtorally and by correspond
ents has induced me 10 oblain and present TO yol
copy of paper read at the last meeting of the Asso-
citation for the Advancement of Science and Art" in
the Cooper Institute in the belief that the manner in
which the matter is treated by the author (Mr. Dug
dale. nom the section on Social Science v may, #
deemed worthy Of publication prove interesting your
readers and beneficial TO the public. Many of the sug
eestions seem 10 me TO be worthy OF profound consd
GRAFTON especially by young men Just entering on the
active duties of the business world. SE'fX
LABOR AND ITS REwARDs-THE EIGHT-HoUR MOVE
MENr. sc.
The Eieht-Hour movement IS only another form
of "a general question which has agltatcd the COM
munity OF abOTerS toreges: How shau th WorNng-
man improve his conditiOnl This s Only another
wav of taking The question Of the distribution 81
wealth which has vet 90 be solved, so that al par
Ties shall feel that they have received what IN
equity they are entitled 20 out OF TINS world ;
stocks of goods.
That the final solution Of the question viii pro
ducea radical revolution in our present system 81
industry, in the tenure Of land IN the power and
functions of government and the methods OF edlca-
ton is clear TO mind but these are contlngen-
cies too remote in the future for our present argu-
ment, which aims at considering whether the
present Eight -IlourmOvemcnts iudicious and what
substitute if any, would be preferable.
There are, substantially, two wings 10 the Eight
lUourmovement the party Of the moderates, ardthe
partv Of the radicals. The latter claim right 10 ten
hours pay for eighthours work, and urge the plea
that they can produce much in eight hours a. IN
ten: therefore, that they ought 10 receive the same
WAGES They are consistent in insisting upon re-
tanngthe same wages, because the present rates are
necessary 10 maintain the present standard OF living
They are inconsistent, inasnuch that they require
employers 10 take theirpromise OF equal production
in UNEQUAL time upon their mere word. They want
EMPLOYERS 10 trUst 10 their promises orword at the
same moment they these employers that hither-
10 they have been wasting one-hth Of their time.
In the face Of this, employers naturally ask, Nhatis
their guarantee that, when they concede the terms
the cmpoyes viii DO the promised work II the
latter can give the necessary pledge and keep Their
word the success of the radical party may be- con-
sidered secured hencoforth they viii retain the same
income. and al the same time secure two hours
leisure. If they cannot give the pledge, or break
their word after giving IT, the price Of commodities
will rise IN proportion 10 the time lost and thus is
tantamount TIA decrease of wages
This brings us TO the same demands as those Of
the moderate party, who only ask eight hours pay
for eight hours work. This parry, too, IS both
liudicious and iniudciOus in lis demands. II Is
iudicous because il docs not ask employers 10 trust
TO mere promises Of working moro diligently, as The
radicals 10. II accepts the present rating agreed
upon between boss and men, so that the employers
/ know what they contract Tor when they agree 10
the bargain. IL Ia injudicious; first, because the
burdens which the nation has been obliged TO assume
in consequence of the late war require rcdoubled
Industry to clear the public debt and not a falling
off of industry Taxation forms great item in the
reduction of wages and il alone NAV force many ot
the EightHour advocates to practically repudiete
! the Eight-HOuT movement within very short umei
second, reduction OF wages j. reduction Of The
standard Of living, and since the teD-honr system
does not By aDy means exhaust the energies of the
iourneyinan the only benefit he has TO cOunterbal-
anCe against the reduction Of his wages is the extra
lesure but third this plan il an attempt 10 realize
the benefit Of leisure before the necessary wealth Tor
its enjoyment has been accumulated. The reduc-
ton Of wages necessarily must rctrcnclment
in some Of the expenses of the household, and this
must be done from that portion OF the outlay Fhich
furnishes amusement or instruction oil any KIND.
Thus while an increase OF leisure an increase
Of expenditure 10 make that leisure enjoyable, We
find instead that the expenditure must be decreased.
Lastly they are both wrong in demanding legisa-
tive interference First Because legislation IL not
wanted ii the ourneymen are united in making the
demand. They can, by refusing TO work longer
than eight hours decide the question BY Their own
individual action. Second: II they are not united
in making the demand, no majority however large,
has the right TO dictate 10 any minority, however
small how it shall dispose Of its time so long as
that time is not employed in committing some
crime. The genius of oG Government wonld pro-
nounce such legislation unconstitutional. We
form of the question, How shall the iourneyman
improve his condition2 The only satisfactory
answer is one that can settle the question per-
mancntly; so that, accompanying the reduction OF
the hours Of labor, the journeyman shall also be
able 10 maintain his present standard OF hVlng,
and have an increase OF income sufficient TO enable
him 70 enjoy the ncwly-acquired leisure. SO, III
this can be secured, We shall consider tho question
involved to be permanently satisfactorily settled
To our mind, il is extraordinary that workingmen
should stin be unable TO see and profit by the
thousand examples of meD who have achieved
wealth in a comparatively short time. Most Jour
ncvmen attribute success 10 chance or chicanery,
legal or Illegal, and very few 10 the real cause.
They imagine that 20 be wealthy is 10 be able 10
commend most cnioyments; but they never seem
10 .iu1uire what are tho conditions necessary 20
secure wealth The rights Of labor viii only I've
settled when each workingman realizes that b.
must become a capitalist as well q workingman,
and acts intelgenty upon the knowledge. Then
will he be able TO add 10 the wages of the labor
which he performs the wages Of the capital which
he inyests.
The whole question resolves itself into this: What
are the cominon-sense means by which journeymen
may become capitalists The answer If simple: BY
adopting the Same means which have made other
men nch. For there is system about the accumu-
laton Of wealth which 10 certain and unvarying
IN its results az the rising and setting Of the sun
and far more easy TO understand There arc four
requisites necessary 1. To be industrious, that
you may earn. =. To be economical, that you may
save. These two rules alone will make you or your
children rich some day. 3. To DO intelligent, so az
to invest your savings as wisely % possible. T. TO
ee cenSeeDuous, 60 % 10 secure the advantage 81