The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-07-05
Capitol and Labor.

Capitol and Labor.
BY request, Hon. Joseph Medill,
Mayor of Chicago, addressed a recent
public gathering of workingmen in
tina. city. We publish that portsm of
his remarks concerning the relation
ship between capital and labor:
Employment is always i'm proper.
ton to the amount of capital willing to
be invested in reproduction. Capital
and labor are naturally parlners; the
i'll the purchasing power of his wages
10y the reason of dodrncss equal to the
falling off in production. Ard if the
journeymen in one trade exact higher
than fair proportional wages the con-
sumers Of all other trades will be over
charged and injured. If all the trades
force up their rates of wages then none
of them are benefited, for losses on
purchases will balance the gains on
wages. The truth is, that something
cannot be had for nothing, and all that
can be divided among the community
Is the total production. The less there
Is the less will fall to each ones share.
! And it may be lad down as an incon-
trOvertible axiom that, until the labOrer
is able to dictate to the capitalist the
price at which the latter must sell his
goods or lease his tenements, and also
the wages he must pay, it will be lmpos-
slble fof tie labOrer to improve his con-
ditiOn by strikes or aboreviation of
work. The great law of supply and
demand will determine the right " ages
that can be paid in the rebuilding of
Chicago, and all coercive and forcing
processes will fail in their object
and come to naught. When the price
of the commodities oflabor are forced
above their legitimate Level, they are
as certain TO fall back again as ball
cast into the air is to return to the
earth.
"What labor needs is plenty of
steady employment at fair wages,
which cannot be had without employ
ers with abundance of capital, who be-
lieve they can realize satisfactory
profit in particular business. Iftney
are successful, they ere sure to re invest
their surplus profits, and thereby fur
nishs continually increasing employ
ment to more men as they enlarge
their Lusineaa Strikes operate as hos
tile raids of a1enemy. Business becomes
disarranged and uncertain; prOprietors
fOOSS anu CCGcC ~
but proceed. TO contract their operations
ani dischi e their employees. Thus
the strikes saw off the limb of the tree
which supports them and 1T tumbies to
the ground.
"But how shall the condition of the
labOrer be improved? That is a hard
problem to solve. The ablest minds i'm
in America are investigating the
question. No satisfactory answer has
yet been given. The best way to avoid
strikes and lOck-outs that has yet been
tried is by arbitration; and the fair&t
division of the profits of capital and Ia
Dor is by cooperation. Ineed not elab-
crate or explain either of these, "a you
are familiar with the principles of both.
The former settles disputes and differ.
ences in a peaceful, quiet and rational
manner, preventing the immense loss
of money and production that attends
prOtracted strikes. The other secures
one is the complement of the other.
Labor, without the aid of capital, is
naked and starves. Capital, without
the help of labor, cannot increase, but
decays. Strikes and lOck-outs are a
species of civil war, infiicting on the
combatants impOverishment and mis-
cry, no matter which seems to win.
Obtaining subsistence is the chief ma
terisl object of existence. Darwin calls
it the struggle of life." Whatever
reduces production increases the inten-
sity of the "struggle," and the sOlici-
tude for existence. The expediency
and wisdom of reducing the hours of
labor during the time of the years ac-
tive season for business, turn ON the
point whether production will curtailed
thereby, and if so, whether the labor
ing classes can spare portion of their
present subsistence. Ii it is thought
that exacting ten hours pay for eight
hours work between April and NOvem-
Der, the labOrer can throw the loss of
production on the employer. he is mis-
taken, i'm part at least, for the employ
er will add 20 or some other per cent.
to the selling price of his goods or his
rent, and make the consumer or renter
pay it SO that the workman must lose
to labor the largest possible share of
profit which the business affords. But
this plan, 1 am sorry to say, oftens fails
by reason of rOss-purpOses, unfaithfui
members, dishonest managers, lack of
unity or want of sufficient capital.
And yet / have faith in its ultimate
general adoption, when the masses be
come better educated and more intelli-
gent, because the princicle of cooper
alton is based on equity aud fair deal
ing.
"Aside from arbitration and cooper
alton have nothing better to propose
than the course pursued myself, viz:
To " ork steadily ut the best wages of.
fered, practice economy in personal ex-
penditure. drink water instead of whis-
ky, keep out of debt, put your surplus
earnings at interest, until have enough
to make payment on q lot; build q
cottage at the earliest day possible,
and then be independent of landlords;
go with your wife to church on Sunday
and send your children to school. If
you have no wife, court some worthy
girl and marry her; push forward
hopefully and perseveringly, and there |
is no fear but you can better your con-
dition and become independent men
long before old age Overtakes you"
After the conclusion of Mr.. Medill's |
remarks the assembled workingmen
adopted series of resolutions:
1st. Avowing their willingness, in such fu-
ture disputes as may arise between the employ |
er and employe, to submit the grievances or
demands to a Board of Arbitrators, one half Of
which shall be selected by the employers, the |
other by the employees; and in case said arbi-
traitors fail to agree, a third party shall be
chosen, agreeable to those interested, whose
decision shall be final. and binding on the dis
putants.
I'd. Cordially endorsing the system of CO.
operation.
3D. Disavowing and deprecating all resort
to violence to secure their demands, and recog-
nizing the right of any workman to dispose of
his labor as he deems proper, and favoriDg
moral suasion" to secure the cooperation of
union workmen in preference Is threats of
intimidation.
4. Repudiating the oft imputed charges Ofthe
lawless character and objects of trades unions. |
and pledging the honor of the workingmen Of
Chicago that they are prcpa eI To froUn down, |
and, if nece sary, to put down, all dcm0nstra-
tions of lauless nature.
Cotton Fabrics I'm India.
An English writer in the London
Examiner says:
The marvellous delicacy of touch pos
sessed by the Indian women counter
balances the inferiority of India cotton
in weaving the fine and delicate mus
lins to which the names of "webs of
woven air" "dew of night" running
waters" ETC., are given by the natives.
They now use the spinning wheel gen.
orally for the ordinary fabrics, but the
spindle still holds its place in the hands
of the HindOO when employed in spin
ming threads for the finer muslins.
For these the HindOO woman first cards