Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-11-13
For the Eaton Democrat.
Labor and Capital.
No. IL.
STRIKES.

iIileu I''I VIC purpose
OF increasing wages, and eudeav-
ored to show that they wer. usu-
ally impracticable. Another ia
vOrite method of the Iabofer for
influencing wages, is by the sys-
tenn of strikes, OF which we know
something in this country, but
for 5 complete knowledge Of
their effects n must read a his
tory of the strikes in England.
We little appreciate the meaning
of n strike. In this country it
signifies the cessation from work,
for a short time,2 of a number Of
laborers. There it more fire.
qnently signifies suffering, starv-
alton, incendiarism and murder.
Probably the most remarkable
on record, although accoG panied
by no disturbances, was that
known as the Preston strike of
1854, at Lancashire, England.
At that time 1900 men ceased
work for SO weeks. During this
period the strikers received near
ly $500, 900 from their fellow la
borers throughout the country
to keep them from starving. At
the end of SO weeks they resum-
ed work-atgtheir iold wages. tn
this instance they lost their wag-
es during the time of the strike,
which would have amounted to
$1,000, 600, besides using nearly
100000 of the hard earned saw
ings of their fellow laborers. 1t
is estimated that the loss to cap
ital during the same period was
also about $1,25O,O0O.
This is a fair example of strikes
generally. They result disastri-
ously to both parties. 1t is very
evident that if the capitalist so
desires, he can carry on the fight
and cone out victorious, for his
bread and butter does not de-
pend on the work being carried
on. When, however, be does
yield to the increased demands
of his employees it is usually for
a short time only, as he will re-
duce the wages to the old stand
ard as sooE as possible.
THE BEST METHOD FOR INCREASING
WAGES.
The futile results of these as
sociations and combinations of
course render them unsatisfactory
ry to both parties, and as a result
other means have been sought,
and it is to be hoped that a means
has at last been found, which.
though yet in its infancy, will
provo TO be the long
sought for remedy, and to this
will now turn our attention.
Iii generally the case that the
profits on products are regulated
by competition, and are thus kept
GOWN to a reasonable amount.
other words, after paying the
actual expenses of production,
he capitalist will be compelled
by competition to sell his COM
modify for just sufficient to pay
aim for the investment of his
.ime and capital. This being the
Ease, it will be observed that
increase in wages is
given must necessarily come off
he profits due to capital, and as
his was originally just sufficient
pay, capital, if it is reduced, it
will result in the withdrawal of
from that business. 1t is
vljent then that under these
circumstances no permanent in
rease in wages can be made
be present condition of the la ,
orer cannot be improved. But {
efore we admit tn a the laborer E
lust remain in his present de-
loIable condition, unable to f
-se, let us see if there be not s
ome other means for his i'm i
rovement. Men who have long 7
Iade this a study have at last c
nfolded a plan that bids fair to
rove successful. They say that
" improvement beneficial to =
Dor must be brought about by .
Ie laborer himself. In other P
ords, the productiueness of Ia G.
Z. must be iucreGspI Takinr p