The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-16

Wright Of Boston belongs the great merit Of
letting light In upon the mystery. In The State
Census Of massachusetts, OF. 1875 he separates
the raw material from the value added by work
done, Thus we have under tho head of boots
and shoes, not the value of the boots and shoes.
hut tho value added to the leather by the work
done 10 convert II into boots aud SHOES 'rhis ia
stated to amount to ssa.37j7y2. Tor which the
pits9nnl , ooc G,mploy'd rcceived ss72ii2i. or
appropriated s70,Gis. GGS. Cotton aud other in
dnsirics show similar results.
The solution of the labor question means the
establishment OF the indisputablo right of the
lahorer to have voice in the disposal and APP
propriation of the produce of his labor which
the capitalists. rs class. oppose by all the
means IN their power. As class they are ms
profoundly impressed with The conviction as
nero Subsistence Of the lahoror il thrir lawful
property. For centuries they fixed the rate Of
wages ly law, and punished as crime any at
There IL Still Il farm laburrr alive IN England
who was. in 1884. transported with several
wages shilling week. But. Notwithstanding
all the oppression and punishment. labor COM
blnation mas at last become lawful. and il Is tho
only power that can solve the laborduestion. Tho
trade unions are the peculiar product of modern
production. the outgrowth OF the everyday con-
ilict between tho capitalist and the laborcr. and
they are the organized centres OF the working
classes. Their immediate aims are to induce. IL
they can. or compel If they must. the employers
TO enter into negotiations with them. in their
corporate capacity. on all matters concerning
the relations of employers and employed. rs a
ill'uuS ~ wv TtKuHllRn VI UH ubTluE'lnfni 81
thohours Of labor corresponding to the increas-
inE productivencss Of labor. and To obtain "a
share in the produce Of labor over and above n
more subsistence. The great bulk Of employers
resist at present but they will have to livr in in
the long run. Suppose the trspns of Massu-
chuscttS had the power 10 compel the employers
to surrender some cigh tor ten millions III tlcir
profits. the whole Of 1t would 90 10 increas" the
demand ipr labor required TO provide tnrm with
the neccssaric- and conyenioncer ~ life. aud "A
similar transfer In all the trades would 20 Il
very long way toward curing the chronic dis
eusc OF want of employment No doubt the cry
VIII be raised over and over again that high
wages means dear goods. and that rise OF
wages all round would leave us as We are No
depends upon the quantity of Labor required 30
produce II. American and English wheat.
quality for quality, sells nj the same price "A
German. Russian. Turk isl. and Egyptian, not
outstanding TINT the rates of wages are 50 dii-
fcreni in the different countries. II H. not the
high wages Of the English lahlrer that makes
provisions dear in lOndon. The risro wug y
claimed by the National Agricultural LahorerS,
Union will simply transfer part of the vllu" ~
the produce of their labor from the pockets pfthe
land vNnufs and farmers into those OF tie Ia
borcrs. The value Of the boots and shoes man
ufactured in Massachusetts would neither in
crease nor dinius h il the work people received
employers s6O.OUJO0O instead Of s70,OUQ.Om
Of the total value. Rome was not built
in a day and the labor question will
not be solved in q day. The employers
have lus, emerged from being de tdciO
and de- juve absolute despots. by law protrctc |.
enforcing unconditional obedience. The work
people have not yet learned t. turh their newly
acquired rights and liberties to proper account
but practice. the best TEACHER of all. Will make
them perfect. MtLTtN IN pARvO