The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-29
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Professor Sumner Before the Congressional Com
mIttee.

mlttee.
New York, Aug, 22,-The Hewitt
Congressional Committee on The labor
question continued its session this NOR
ming. Professor Sumner was the first
witness. He said he was professor OF
political and social science in Yale Col
iege. He directed attention to the tact
that within the last few years the means
of transportation and communication
had become greater, and by these means
he thought that overrproduction was the
consequence, and had made complete
revolution over the whole world. lie said
that when the Suez Canal was nrst open.
ed goods came much quicker, and caused
a glut in the English market, new goods
accumulating on top OF old. But thls
glut had now been overcome. Within
the last quarter of a century there had
been great improvement in machinery
of all kinds, and taking the accumulated
effect of all these machines they must ac'
cumulate their effects and produce a
temporary set back, and was another
factor in causing this depression in labor
circles. This effect would reach everyN
body, for the effect machinery would
have would be to cheaper luxuries and
bring down things to the poor classes,
which century ago they never thought
of Machinery had been Of great good to
the masses, though in cases of indlvid-
uals and classes it had worked them evil.
If the United States had been free in
1872 she might have been able to com
pete with England when the coal and iron
trade was being carried on to great ex-
tent. The laborer in the United States
in the present time is not having as good
time or as good subsistence as the las
borer in England. In this country there
were twelve people to the mile and in
Belgium there were 400 persons to the
mile, and the latter lived very fairly.
He did not think a revolution would
cause any change in this respect.
The people of the whole country since
1873 had been trying to solidify and set.
tie up their accounts. During the last
five years many persons had accumula5
ted capital by reducing expenditures.
He thought legislation could do nothing
for this stagnation in labor. Every per
son must work along the best way he
could. We had heard a great deal lately
about over.production. He clased it as
a disproportionate production. When
there was this disproportionate produc'
ton witness thought it was due to the pro.
tective system. The tariff was greatly
to blame for our production of every
year being greatly in excess of the de-
mand. The tariff congested the popu-
lation in some districts to where it would
not otherwise have been attracted. The
only way to remedy this was redistris
button of the people among the indus
tries of the country. This redistribution
was going on under its natural laws
He was not in favor of the Government
colonizing lands, but found no fault with
private organizations doing so from a
spirit of benevolence. The only remedy
for the depression of labor was the april.
cation of sound doctrines to the case in
point. The only way in which the Gov.
ernment could assist the capitalist
in the accumulation of capital was to
give him the greatest amount Of privil-
eges in using his liberties and energies
for production, and by removing restric
tions on trade leave him free to profit by
the fruits of his industry. Professor Sum-
ner spoke for long time and was listen
ed to attentively. Many of his points,
however, have been indicated in his pre-
vious lectures and papers.
After recess William E. Dodge, iron
merchant, appeared in his official capac-
ity as president of the National Temper
ance Society, and claimed that the use
of Intoxicating liquor was one of the
causes of the present condition of the la.
boring classes. The distress in labor
might be relieved to some extent by the
modification of the tariff and action of
the Government in the matter ofresump>
ton ofspecie payment. He never knew
capital to be SO abundant as now, but
there was great difficulty in using it in
business. Another factor in alleviating
this distress would be Legislation in the
matter of liquor traffic. Other officers
of the National Temperance Society apN
peared, and the committee adjourned
until tomorrow.