The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-04-18


England seems to be almost the only country
in Which the laborers aud their employers have
como to anything like mutual, to say nothing
OF satisfactory, agreement, during the present
depressed condition OF all industries. Nearly
all of the late strikes ir Shat country have been
settled by arbitration, the concessions made by
worbmen being the results OF decisions or
persons selected patty by themselves. or
course the CRISIS has called out good deal of
theoretical comment. But 1t has also induced
investigation on the part of numbers OF en-
ployers and thoss representing them, as re-
spects ideas set forth Ky the workmen. The
these ideas have been found to rest upon the
basis of not only reason but experience.
! Heretofore the workmen have generally
claimed a uniform rate of wages and the aboh-
ton of piece-work. Employers, on the other
hand, have protested against both. The latter
regarded piece work as the only fair method
OF remuneration at the same time they took
the position that there was an immense differ
ence in the skill OF workmer.
Now came forward Mr. w. Lattlmer and
other writer's on political economy to sustain
the views OF workmeR. The above named
gentleman, upon review OF the history OF
Manchester trade for quarter of a century,
concludes that the system OF payment by re-
suits has developed quantity ct the expense OF
quality: and that it has really offered prem
iEm for sighting work that doubtless on the
trained 10 do good work continued TO turn it
oyt from haoit; but their necessities developed
the outward effects and results OF paying for
Quantity in a marked manner. Mr.. Lattimer
denounces the piece-work system as wholly
aptagonistic to quality, and, indeed denounces
itsas the main cause of the depreciation in the
character OF British products. He accordingly
looks upon it as il not wrong in principle, yet
unsafe in practice-as Incompatible with ex-
celo2ce as it would be in the fine arts. He
argues with fair show OF force that you can
no more spin yarn or weave cloth by the piece
than you can paint pictures at so much the
square inch. Since the introduction OF piece
work, he contends wages Of operatives depend
upon the regularity with which the machinery |
is run; they are curtalled for any stoppage, |
hence the workmen will not stop to remedy |
every fault that appears in the web, and no
cunningly devised methods Will compel them |
to do so.
AS to the claim of uniformity OF wages, made
by the workmen, Mr.. Lattimer is still more
emphatic He shows that in large body OF
men, all OF whom have spent some years III |
learning trade, there is not so much variety
in performance that equal wages may not be
paid without fragrant injustice.
In treating upon another branch of this sub
ject, Mr.. John Morley and others also claim
that fundamental question: whether o work
mans wages are adequate to sustain him prop
erly-must be taken into account more faith
fully than has yet been the case, If the labor
problem is ever to be solved. This gentleman
also throws grave doubts upon the advantages
supposed to flow from the division Of labor
dc grants that greater dexterity and a larger
yielo are ODtalneu AT tne outset, Dut that these
benefits will be materially lessened, If not
overcome although, in the second or third |
generation brought up under the system; also,
that the tedium and monotony induced by the
concentration of the mind and body upon an
necessarily repeated action, may beget care
lessnsss OF manner and disregard Of excellence,
il not total suppression of mental interest.
Division Of Labor, he also says, results in max
Ing the operative toiling in q single productive
function less generally useful, more OF ma
chine and less a man, and in the end entirely
at the mercy of his employer. One writer goes
so far as TO ascribe to the want of variety in
employment, and the consequent absence OF a
healthy excitement OF the mental faculties, the
increasing demand for artificial shmuIants
which is now SO marked throughout Great
Britain.
1t Is to be remarked that, in view of the
above reactlonary views OF political economy
1t Is somewhat strange they should be assuming
shape aud form in the nation which has given
birth to the present generally accepted theories
and dOcfrinoq of