The Labor enquirer., 1883-03-17
NH, Future of Labor.

~ ~tof nv amily2 What the future of
'D class? For the wageworkers do
.no+itute class, and a hereditary class,
.tuitbstanding all assertions to the
contrary somebody must do the work of
+bs world in regard to production and
distribution, but is it necessary to have
q onseaI class to do: this work-a class
irst above the verge of 5pauperism?
How many wageworkers ever give
thought to their future? The great bulk
Of them look only to work and wages,
content to live from hand to mouth like
so many slaves. They do not realize the
fact that our class divisions are artificial
and unjust, giving the least reward to
those who do the hardest and most disa-
greeable work. They humbly ask for
<"fair wages" and fair hours. But do
these insure for the future? Nothing of
the kind. The horizon of the wage
worker is bounded by the poor house or
dependence on relatives.
The wages Of workmen of all grades
do notrepresent the value of their labor,
else:ther would be no fat dividends and
no millionaires. All "business" is based
on system of profits. This is the great
incentive to engage in manufactures or
commerce. If there is not profit enough
to insure a luxurious living, expenses
must be curtailed, and as the primary
expense in all enterprises is labor, the
cost of labor is the first thing to be re-
. sduced
f. Our present social system permeate8
all men with more or less selfshness, for
the future is uncertain, and we want to
make the most we can at the present
time. 1t is our industrial system that
creates this uncertainty, for nothing can
be depended upon. Panics and glutts
and loss of employment are certainly
disturbing all business calculations. So
.ciety is filled with discordant interests,
not only among individuals but classes.
No man is safe.
Is such a condition of doubt and un-
certainty satisfactory to any individual
or class? Certainly not. We all wish
for or-something more reliable, but know
not how to accomplish it. All classes
are more or less dependent on each
other, and there are jrreconcilable disa-
4 greements between capital and labor
These come from opposing interests.
For where the profits Of one man or
class conee from the labors Of others, the
class that pay tribute can not but be
dissatisfied
The great question of industrial recon
,8truction is coming to the front in de-
fance of all opposition. The outcome Of
the prevailing labor agitation will be a
union of capital and labor in all occupa-
tion8, and the abolition Of class distinc-
tion8 Every thinker plainly sees this.
The present social system will not much
longer be tolerated, with all labor i'm
posed on the wages class and all profits
given to capital. This was necessary in
the past, like other imperfectiOns in in
dustriaI u8ages, but society is working
ont of it as out of its despotic political
systems.
Every man ought to be able to say, by
his own individual experience, that
change is perpetual And as the indi-
Vidual changes, 50 do society and gov
ernment All history is but a record Of
changes of this character. How then
can any man fail to see that our social
system requires changes as well as other
a things? We have abolished ancient
teudaIism and modern chattel slavery.
They have been superseded by the wage
system, as representing the rival classes
ot employers and employed, will follow
It's @1redecessors.
The Servitude of labor to capital is
doomed, There is no longer any reason
lot It's continuance. 1t is an outrage
upon every principle of republican gov
eminent WHY should one class be de-
Pendenton another for work and bread?
Inc great social upheaval coming upon
us Is aresult ofgrowth and development,
nCI I to oe put down by fraud or force.
"ny cannot labor and capital discuss
,u'oFe changes, while voluntary agree
T T'snl Is possible ?-J. F. Bray, from St.