The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-08-11
LABOR AND CAPITAL.

The mass meeting of workingmen,
held in Baltimore on Monday night
and the organization of the working
mems party, has attracted much atten-
ton throughout the country Whether
or not the plans proposed for the amelio-
ration of their condition, as set forth in
their resolutions, are the right ones, is
doubtful but that the workingman of
the country is entitled to greater con-
sderation than he receives is certainly
true. The oft-repeated aphorism, that
"capital without labor is dead" is true
to the letter; still the laboring man
must not fail to remember that a state
of death would be the result on the
other side were capital withdrawn; so
that, in their attempts to redress their
grievances and improve their condi-
ton, the mistaken plan of resorting to
the destruction of capital is simply
their own ruin. Whatever wrongs
they may have suffered, they placed
themselves outside of the law when
they undertake to forcibly carry their
point; they lose the sympathy of law
abiding citizens, which they may have
previously enjoyed, and fill the roll of
outlaw. A friendly and kindly considera-
ton of each others rights and necessities
by both parties would have done much
to have prevented the present deplora-
BILE condition existing between employer
and employed. That the employee has
been the sufferer in consequence of the
great railroad competitions and wars of
the past, no one can deny. That these
corporations have ignored his rights
and, by their exacting demands in a
measure, reduced him to the condition
of slave is equally true; but never
did 1.-TWO wrongs make right and by
returning wrong for wrong the laborer
will fail to benefit himself Among the
resolutions adopted at the meeting re-
ferred to were the following:
The national government should control
all corporate bodies. Urging the passage
of law making eight hours days work.
Requiring the establishment of labor bu-
reau for regulation of sanitary condition of
workshops, fire escapes, and aid in co-ope-
rative industry by legislation. Opposing
contract prison labor as increasing poverty
and crime. Pledging to every means
to elevate the wages of women to equality
with mems; urging the establishment by
the State of system of arbitration for all
disputes between labor and capital; de-
manding the abolition of the law which
permits a landlord to impoverish an un
fortunate tenant who may owe one months
rent by Selling his goods and putting him
in the street. This law is declared a relic
of barbarism. believing the next Legisla
ture will endeavor to pass stringent con-
spiracy laws, we will oppose any law trench
ing on the freedom of any number Of peo-
pie in action or expression which does not
infringe the natural rights of others. OPP
posing giving out work to contractors, and
favoring the direct employment by the cor
poration of all mechanics, laborers, ETC.,
on public works.
The great controversy between capt.
tai and labor is too old and deeply
rooted to be settled in day, and time
alone can work out the great problem;
but one thing is certain, that in this
grand contest for their elevation, the
laboring men, if they would succeed,
must be moderate and conservative,
rather than defiant, seeking to secure
the sympathes of the people rather
than by force carrying their point.