Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-05-07
CLEARFIELD, Pa, WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1879

supplying the comforts and necessities
of man, deserves the highest praise.
Why Because he iulfills tho highest
destiny of man, in that he masters the
secrets of nature and converts them TO
the use of creates capital. La
Dor is the foundation of capital, but
shall it be said that labor shall destroy
capital? Shall the father destroy his
oflspring2 Shall there even be con.
flict between them? Educated labor
does not desire it; capital does not de-
sire it. Who docs? The demagogue.
Is there any real conflict between
them? We hear from all sides that
capital invested in industrial pursuits
does not bring to its owners a suffi-
cient recompense. Many Of our iron
furnaces are idle; our foundries, and
our machine shops and planning mills
are standing still our coal operators
complain that they can make no prof
it's; the laboring men who work IN
these several branches Of industry com
plain that they are insufliciently paid
both sides are telling the truth
neither capital or labor arc receiving
the returns they did during what we
call "aush tines What shall we do ?
If labor demands more Of capital, and
capital grants it, then capital will suf-
fer If capital demands that'the price
of labor shall be less, then labor will
suffer. If labor demands so much of
capital that it cannot stand il, then
capital will shut itself up and refuse to
employ labor-then what Capital
cannot be compelled to employ labor,
and labor can have nothing to do with
out capital. Thus we see that one is
dependent upon the other, and both
must live and thrive together, or both
must suffer. 1t is said by some that
capital oppresses labor, and that labor
must be protected by law
Others say that labor oppresses cap
ital and demands of it more than it can
pay. That both allegations are some
times true, | have no doubt Capital
lists invest their money in industrial
pursuits cxpectiDgito make profit on
their Investment They do not invest
it in business simply for the sake of
giving employment to labor--they ex-
pect return in the shape Of profit in
their investment--for their labor and
the risk Of their capital-whose capi-
tai is his muscles and training in his
art, expects a profit and return for
tits value depending upon its being
well directed by an intelligent under
standing, the more skilled labor com
manding the higher price. That the
capitalist often takes advantage of the
laborer is doubtless true-that the la.
borers sometimes take advantage OF
their employees is equally true. 1t IL
possible by legislation toprevent either
one from imposing upon the other
This is not pretended, but it is alleged
on the part of labor that in some 10
calftes and in some industrial pursuits
a system of paying the wages OF labol
in orders on store or stores has beer
introduced, and that the merchant
are in the habit of charging exorbitan
prices for their goods, and that IN thi
way the laboring man is deprived of
portion OF his hard earned wages thi
is no doubt true in many cases and II
an evil 1t is not confined to compa
ny stores or stores owned by the EN-
ployes of labor-but most all stores
upon whom orders arc drawn, charg
= more for goods sold upon orders thai
! they do for cash. Why? because a
order is not money, il is letter Q
! credit and tho merchant who receive
. it parts with his goods, which cos
. him money, and is compelled to wal
' months for his pay.
Q Our toiling farmers, as generi
Q rule have no money from Spring
9 Fall; they employ labor at lower fl
a urcs than any other branch of indul
n try, and are compelled TO pay thei
!. hired men with an order on q countr
/. store, at least 10 furnish him wit
II his necessaries in this way. 'Th
Q merchant waits upon the farmer to r
a limburse him until his crops are ha
d vested and put to market. The me
d chant must charge moro for his goot
4. sold in this way than if sold for cas-
/ or he would fail in business. IT Il
q farmer was by law compelled at q
n times to pay cash for his labor !
/ d. ..<...l1 ka ,al