The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-08-23
solution of the Labor QucuIon.


Dick West, the Republican Hayes
candidate Tor the Governors place in
Ohio, talks with a cegree OF boldness
of new question that does not often
distinguish a party leader and candi-
date. lie says;
While disorder must be reprcssed,
rights maintained and property pro
teCted by the strong hand, when the
necessity shAll arise, we must not al
low the existence OF causes capable OF
peaceful remedies to impel us to that
state where we shall he forced to
choose between military despotism and
social anarchy. Let us rather demand
the exhaustion of all peaceful appli-
ances. II these shall fail TO protect
the rights and maintain the relation of
capital and labor, then, aud then only,
must the Old World history be suffered
to repeat itsSf on American soil. That
there should be an irreconcilable an
tagonism, necessarily tendiEg TO col
lislou between capital and labor, is
most unnatural. Their tights are
distinct, equally sacred, equally en-
titled to evoke and have the protcc-
ton of the law. They are mutually
dependent, and each is indispensable
to the other. Labor is the source of
all production. Capital, with increase,
is the exclusive product of its hand.
Without the remuneration which
comes from the product of labor alone,
capital must perish from exhaustion.
Without The means and opportunity Of
employment which capital alone can
furnish, labor must perish from mac
ton and want. Whatever is destruct-
i've Of either is fatal TO the other.
Without the cooperation of each,
both must languish and die. Since,
then, the interest and property of
each are indispensable from those Of the
other, ia it not the part Of wisdom to
devise and apply some method of iu-
termangemeDt which, without trench
ing upon the separate rights OF the
other, shall secure the harmonious CO.
operation OF both; which, without dis
turbing their existing relations, shall
repress antagonism and secure the
common efforts of each in the com.
mon protection OF all? To tins sug-
gestion there can he but one rational
answer-yes. l. such method of in
Encouragement practicable or possible?
Much reflection and the experience of
Others tell me it is. The whole
embarrassment arises out of the
question of compensation. Capital pre-
scribes 4 fixed rate, changing il at
pleasure. Labor feels that il is insufl-
cient. A sense OF injury and injustice
is begotten; whether it be real or i'm
agInary the result is the same. Dissat-
isfeciion ripens Tito open discomfort
until the slumbering volcano bursts
forth. Can this be avoided without
arms and the shedding of blood L
am persuaded IL can. Howe BY adopt |
Jog and applying in our great indus
trial enterprises scale OF eompensa-
tion conditioned on the net earnings.
Will this vest labor with any prOprie-
tary interest or property right in the !
capital employedI Certainly it cannot
any more than fixed Compensation
can vest it with such right. Shall il
be brought about by compulsory legis-
Iatiori No; for either capital or labor
to invoke this would be to place its
head in the lions Jaws, even il the
government had authority to assume
jurisdiction OF the subject but it has
no such authority. Freedom to con-
tract is the highest liberty OF the citi-
zen. Subordinate this liberty 10 legis-
lstive control, and be at once becomes
the slave of uBscrupulous power and |
political corruption. How. then. may
IL be accomplished Let the capital !
ist prescribe a reasonable minimum |
rate % compensation 10 be paid a, all /
events, and in addition thereto assume /
10 distribute among his labcrers At the |
end OF a stated period an agreed OF /
specified percentage of his net earnings l
FOR tbs same time. II his business |
prosper the laborer, from whose toll IL
sprung, would share his prosperity.
II not, he would acquicsce with en-
eminent IN receiving all that il was in 1
ne power Of q considerate employer to /
give. Methods Of graduated compen-
iaiIon similar TO this have been adopt /
d in Europe, in this country and in
,ur Own State, and my information IS
hat in no single instance have lock
'uts or strikes occurred in any indus
nal establishment where adopted.
dy judgment, therefore, is that their
lPpiicafion 10 the management OF our
ailway and other great Industrial IN
iestments would be attended with like
satisfactory results. These opinions
ne neither new nor hastily formed.
capital can be persuaded TO
sdopt them the future viii determine.