Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-02-03
LABOR AND CAPITAL.

on the above subject, in which the Hu-
thor SAYS that it would inure greatly
to the benefit OF laborers and capital
lists if they could only be induced to
see that their interests are common.
They too often treat each other as II
they were enemies and not friends.
The operative allows himself TO be per-
suaded that the man of wealth is Op-
posed to him, and does everything in
his power to Oppress and impoverish
him. The capitalist, on the other hand,
acts not unfrequently as if he believed
the workingman to be his most invet-
crate enemy, fully bent upon his de-
struction. The attitude maintained
by the one towards the other is such
that they have come to be regarded as
natural enemies, while the fact is they
are the most natural allies.
When times are hard and labor is
scarce il is to be feared that in some in
stances the capitalist takes advantage
of the laborer, and reduces his wages TO
almost the starvation point. This he
does not so much for his own personal
benefit and aggrandizement as by way
of retaliation for advantages taken of
him when there was a brisk demand
for the products of his establishment.
Wien workingmen strike for higher
wages they do it, as general thing, at
ingly needed. This places the manu-
facturer, or the coal operator, at great
disadvantage, in fact places him at the
mercy of the laboring man, for it is a
serious loss to him if his hands turn out
at time when he has large contracts
to fill. He not only misses the sale of
his products, upon which he would be
able to realize handsome profit, but
runs the risk of having to pay damages
ON account of his failing to make good
the contracts entered into.
No person knows better than the
operatives the straits to which manu-
facturers are reduced at times when
they have large orders to fill, and they
are too ready to take advantage of the
necessities of their employers. The dis
position being manifested by the en-
ploye at a time when he knows the
manufacturers harvest is beginning to
wither, causes the latter to deal harsh
ly with his workmen when the tide
turns and begins to run in the opposite
direction. As soon as times get dull,
and trade is at stand still, so that the
manufacturer cares very little whether
his machinery is kept in motion or
not, he will endeavor to get even with
the men who put him to a non-plus at
the time when their services-were
OF the greatest importance.
Thus labor and capital become not
generous rivals, but actual foes. But
really there is not, and there should
not be, any antagonism between them.
They are help-meets to each other, and
should live together on terms of peace
and the strictest harmony. Labor is
the poor mans capital. 1t is his stock
in trade. Capital is the product OF la
Dor, and could never lie increased if the
sons of toll should refuse to work.
Without labor capital would be unpro-
ductive, and without capital labor
would be unremunerated. 1t is strange
then that the two things should ever be
at war, for conflict between them is,
in every instance in which it takes
place, greatly detrimental to both.
The unnatural controversy, which
has kept up between them has given
rise to manufacturers associations, pro-
tective organizations and trades
unions. Such societies, if properly con-
y would not be productive of in
jury, but might be the occasion of
much good. There conld not possibly
be anything wrong in workingmen
meeting together in council to hold
mutual consultation on matters per-
tanning to their interests and welfare,
any more than in manufacturers hold
ing meetings for the same purpose.
But when societies are organized with
the view of carrying on war then they
exercise most pernicious influence on
the interests of all concerned. Let
there be ho strife, then, between them,
but let each study the others benefit,
and then it will best promote its own
interests.