Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-30
The LABOR PROBLEM.

of Pennsylvania, who, about year ago,
proudly boasted of being one of two dema-
gogues in the House of Representatives.
There is, indeed, much that is demagogueio
in the inquiry, both as proposed and con-
Quoted. It is q cheap device for establish
ing notoriety as ''a friend of the working
man." The Hewitt committee of last year,
which had the same subject under consider
alton, accomplished absolutely nothing for
the benefit of the working classes. It's time
was consumed in listening to statements by
few extremists of various sorts-rank COM
munists, anti-progressionists and CAPT.
talists. Scarcely any who appeared before
the committee were entitled to the honor of
being called workingmen. So great was the
diversity of opinions, SO impracticable the
theories advanced, that the committee aban-
doned the inquiry in disgust, confident that
they could not please everybody, and con-
scious, therefore, that they could please no.
body.
The present committee has gone to work
in the same way as its predecessor. Men
have been summoned to give evidence who
are in no respect the representatives of the
laboring men, and who have no knowledge
whatever of the labor problem. AS was to
be expected but little of practical utility has
been evolved. Some claim that the increase
of machinery is the cause of the depression
of labor, others that there is too little cur
rsncy, and still others that there is too much.
No two seem to agree fully. Some advocate the
starting of gigantic public improvements as
a remedy, while several others consider that
an increase of the volume of currency will
be panacea for all our woes. A few of the
more sensible and conservative assert that
business and industry are gradually improv-
ing, and that no legislation on the subject is
needed at present. With this latter view
We fully agree.
Every person whose perceptive faculties
are not completely dulled must have OBJ
served the improvement of business that
has taken place in the past year. Advices
from the cities show that trade has never
been as large since the panic of 1873. The
profits have been less than previously, owing
to the reduction of prices that has taken
place, but people have learned some Needed
lessons in economy within the past
few years, and do not re-
qnire as much to live upon
as previously. Manufactures have received
new impetus, while there is larger in
vestment in building enterprises than in any
year since the crash. There are few idle
men to be found in any of the larger cities,
notably in the West. This condition of af-
fairs prevails in st. Paul. Our streets are
barren of the loafng element, and every
person who is willing to work can find some
thing to do-at least sufficient to support
himself and his family in comfort Our
railroad enterprises have given employment
to thousands of laborers and mechanics,
while so great has been the demand for me-
chanics to aid in the construction of bust
ness blocks and private residences that con-
tractors have been obliged to call
on the surrounding country for
help. The harvest now in progress
IT,
promises to be the most abundant ever gath
cred, and has given employment to thou
sands of field hands at excellent wages.
Everything points to revival of trade, not
IN the future but already in progress. ss,rhe
depression of trade'' 80 much talked about
among politicians has been reality in the
past it is Pigment of the imagination at
prosent-a piece of clap-trap employed by
dem agogues to catch the votes of the Gull
ible.
The pending inquiry can do no good.
Congress cannot by force of an edict restore
prosperity. Trade and industry are superior
to Congressional enactments. They are
governed by indexible laws that do not orig
mate with Legislatures or Congresses. We
are now steadily advancing. Within ten
days hundred million bushels of wheat
will be harvested in the Northwest alone.
This promises to find ready market in
Europe, and millions of dollars will be re-
turned to our producers before the next
seed-time. It would be we'll, after trying
tinkering unsuccessfully for long time, to
see what advantage would result in allowing
the labor problem to solve itself.