Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-01-16
The Labor Question.

Among the many great questions which
are arising for the people of the present
day to s,lve, is that of Capital vs.. Labor.
and as each one views it from his own
stand point, the agitation Of the question
has only eng,ndcrel hard feelings and
bitter animosites. If the Farmers
Oranges and Trades Unions are simply
protests against oppressive practices and
rules they are enduring, they have the
remedy in their own hands, but they, if
they deal justly, must consult the inter>
ests Of all parties, and not of class.
Though their hate against 'midIlemcn' is
intense, the question as to their utility or
non utility, can only be satisfactorily
solved through those whose sympathics
are not entirely with any one class. I'm :
limited power, in any hands, ecclesiasti-
cal or civil leads to tyrany and Cypress
ion. Capital is power, but a necessary
one, and instead Of crying it down, and
making raids upon it, or viewing it as an>
tagonistic to tn. interests of labor, other
means should be adopted. 1t can
only be safely checked, when it is disposed
to:ekoeed in 100 great a degree It's just
bounds, and Cypress labor, regardless of
It's claims to an equality of rights. But
how is this to be done Capital must
lead the way, or labor cannot follow. 1t
III ust risk, while labor has no risks but
steps in and takes possession Of the fl Id
opened by capital, and if through years
OF patient toll and economy capital is &C
qnired, as is generally the case, the labor>
ing man. has TO demands upon il, thai
does not leave a fair margin of profit to
It's poSsessor. But the laborer has also
his rights, and his capital locked in his
strong hands is his, to be made productive
and yield an interest that is his to do
with ms he pleases, so far as his employer
is concerned; whether he spends it wisely
or unwiscly is nobody's business but his
own, and u monicd power that lowers the
profits of the laborer, regardless of his
common rights, commits an injustice
which ought not under any circumstances
20 be tolerated. But how reach il! How
regulate the laws of demand and supply ?
il done through combinations which make
the employer and the employed alike cap
l'alistS, giving shares in the profits in
prcportidn~to time sper t., money invested
and abilityto execute; the man who puts
brains into the BUSINESS must receive a
greafer' compensation than he who only
puts la muscle, and must necessarily over
see the whole But this resolves itselfin.
to capital which the common laborer can
not reach. and the profits ofwhich he can,
not with justice share equally in. 1t is
true he holds power in his hand, the
ballot, that can prevent the capitals from
taking any unfair advantage, and this is
all that Is rightly his due. He may say.
that while capital receives fair eouiva>
lent, so must labor, but he must be able
to create demand to meet the supply. or
nothing beneficial to the laboriny class. as
body; can result from it.
Ii the hands of laborer is his capital
50 is brains to its possessor, whose repre>
Ncntatiyes, inventions, being larger cans
ital than the: hands can produce. tould
by right yield a larger interest; these in>
ventlons, to be made profitable must be-
Sold and to be sold must be Advertised
agents the dreaded NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
can do this effectualY, and arc entitled 10
compensation for efforts which pace
within the reach of all labor saving ma
chimes, that have always enhanced the
profits of the buyer. Labor, on all hands
ami in all Its forms. is arising to demand
an adjustment Of its Difficult ties, and the
only right adjustment is on the broad
basis of the command to do to others as
we would be done by. AS conflicting
winds produce calm, although the meet
Ing is to be dreaded, SO conflicting inter>
ests will have to drop all that is unjust
and unreasonable, if beneficial to class.
ana retain only that which benefits ali
classes.
----------s- ..
The repeal of the salary bill still ling.
ers IN the senate. There. seems to be
dislike to vote for bill to repeal the new
law, and place the salary back where it
was. That is All the nnhl;c r.o,,;,. w