Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-16
TIE LABOR PROBLEM.

AAG LADOh ffkOBLEMs
Underneath the whole labor movement
there is an underlined something which, how
ever often its special objects may be de-
feated, terminates new life and fresh ele-
ments Of strength. To superficial minds
the labor question is summed up in the
two words, "high wages" to others it ap-
pears like some horrid apparition and
forms most destructive part Of our sys-
tenn of politics; to others again the terms
"working-people" and "laboring classes"
have vulgar sound and are always as
sociated with STRIKES riots, and other
disgraceful scenes, while the great mass of
those who constitute the body of labor re-
formers have but a faint idea Of the vital
canses leading to and embraced within
their organizations.
What is it that is wrong in society to-
day that should cause disafection to be-
come so general among all those who labor
for daily support Are not our working
people-artisans, mechanics, clerks and
laborers-better paid, in the aggregate,
than ever before Have they not superior
accommodations in their homes, and are
they not more able to educate their chill
dren in all the essential branches, than the
same class Of society in other countries !?
Very true; but still more is required.
Having gained this much, and being edu-
Gated up to the idea that these things are
indispensable requisites to mans welfare,
the recipients have begun to ask questions
of their teachers into the ways and where
fores of other things, that they may obtain
more, not in the spirit of greed, but from
a desire to secure their rights. AS nat
ural consequence, we find that our work
ing-people are growing in intelligence,
and though every measure adopted by
them has not always proved the wisest and
best for the redress of the wrongs, either
real or imaginary, that have been imposed
upon them, still the fact that intelligent
organization has been affected among them
indicates that they mean to preserve until
they accomplish their purpose.
At present the purpose sought is not
very clear. In one section of the country it
is standard scale of wages for labor per-
formed, in another, it is to obtain the nee
r ~ re a0c%. ~,
another, to control labor under certain
rules and restrictions; aud in other sec
lions various measures are sought after as
bearing upon their general well being !;
but underneath the whole there is gener-
al principal at work, AMI it has been at
work for years, which will in time develope
into powerful agency for good or evil, as
the leaders show themselves to be bad or
good men.
This principle is in forward state of de-
velopment at the present time. Notwith-
standing the severe, cold Winter and the
very hard times, Spring comes and bust
ness will again be brisk and the labor
movement will be more active thai ever
before. The panic of last year, topping
over, as it did, some of the strongest bank
ing institutions Of the country, closing up
numerous branches Of industry, and ruin
ing financially, thousands Of men, has weak
ened the confidence Of the laboring ele-
ment in the MANAGEMENT of these concerns.
It has done more. It has taught them a
lesson that will not soon be forgotten in
the history Of events preceding the panic.
Capital sought to depress labor to its ut
most limit, to bolster up fictitious appear
ances, and to float the chief spectators
over season of anticipated trouble. The
extravaganza existing in society before
the panic was the gittering bait which
led the country on to final disaster all
classes become infected with the desire to
be rich, or at least to be considered not
poor. The wealthy were pandering to de-
PRAYED tases, and the laboring classes
sought to get smore time in order to i'm
prove themselves. The Eight-hour law
was demanded of our legislators and OBJ
tanned; increased compensation was also
sought, while counter-movements were
made by capital. The panic put a temper
airy cessation to hostilities by placing
both classes upon level-that is, out Of
employment-and during the gradual re-
turn to business activity, plans are being
laid for the future which, in the event of
their being carried out, viii have marked
effect upon political affairs. The Labor
movement is yet in its infancy; but the
men engaged in it are somewhat above the
class whom James Parton mentioned to his
recent address, entitled, "Who are the
Vulgar ?" in which he said, that three
centuries ago the vulgar people compre-
hended the whole of the toiling masses, in
contradistinction to the favored few who
ruled them.
A NEVADA CITY MAN IN TROUBLE.