Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-15
The iscIa,ions of A mericau CAPITAL nna
Labor
From the American Protectlo9ls., Feb. @,

u 'SiA 'Hc ANTI ICdH GTclCcllO llSl, FEB. 81
Perhaps no subject engages the attention
OF thoughtful, intelligent and humane men
more than the relation Of capital and labor.
Through the legislative power OF nation its
people expect and demand such laws as will
protect their industries from being weakened
or destroyed by the competition Of foreign
| nations. Labor docs not ask charity. but il
does demand that its condition shall not be
reduced to the low level which exists in
other countries, and no political party in this
country VIII receive the support of the peo-
pie which aoandons the policy Of Protection,
or ventures on the experiment of Free Trade.
American mechanics and workmcn are
neither stupid nor scrvile, and .the farmer
known the value OF II hou market.
A matter only secondary in importance
should II possible be solved viz the rela-
lions OF capital and labor. These sole cle
mcnts OF wealth are absolutely dependent
each on the other, aud should be so adjusted
That ooth are fully protected ia their rights.
Trades unions have done something, but
have hy no means solved the problem, for
| they start on a false basis of antagonism
They refuse to employ capital, except on
their own terms; and capital is only avail
able when it is based oil confidence. You
may persuade capital to do anything, but
nothing can coerce capital any length of
time, for coercion is its destruction. An
| other objection to trades unions is that each
individual member necessarily sinks his in
dependence, and becomes servile to the gov
ernng power Of its organization and, be-
sides, the conditions of each are so different.
One member has but himself to provide for :;
another for himself and lis family. The
power to resist in one is measured by his
personal needs in the other by the needs of
himself and his family
1t is doubtful if strikes in the long run
have been profitable to the workmen, when
we charge the value of the time lost, and the
competition of nOn-unionists, and credit
the increase Of wages obtained by a success
full strike.
Cooperation has proved disastrous fail.
nIe, for various reasons notably that COOP
Grafton cannot provide for a condition of long
continuedloss. Working capital, in any organ.
izatiou, is limited, compared with the cos,
Of the plant. and during periods of deprcs-
sion soon exhausted. Cooperative labor can
contribute no further in such condition than
sutliclency to provide the bare cost of hv-
ing. Besides, it has been found that the
value aud quality of labor under the cooper
alive system are almost as various as the ill.,
dividuals
1t is suggested that another system might
do something to solve the problem, viz u
system which intimately identifies labor and
capital, but preferring labor. 1t is suggested
that general law be passed by the egisa-
lures of the states, authorizing all corpora
tons to adopt system for officers and work
men (abOve the condition OF The day labOrer)
by which u period of service is established
similar to that which governs the civil and
military services Of England and the United
States. For u second period of service an
additional per- diem compensation to he al
lowed, and IA further additional compensation
per diem on the third period of service, with
the option to either partY-the employer or
the employed-at the end of the third period
of service TO retire or be retired on an an
nuity, the said annuity 10 he not less than |
one-third of the annual earnings or salary of |
the person so retired. The obligations of any |,
corporation for such persons to be "A prefer |
ence debt before all bonds, capital or other |
of the company. 1t is further
suggested that under such system the GER
tainly Of "A complete support, earned by
good conduct and faithful performance of |
duty, would induce workmen and officers to
serve for a less compensation than they
would be willing to accept with the uncer-
tainty OF continuous employ ent. There
can be no doubt that it would be for the in-
lerest of railway and manufacturing com.
panies to adopt such system, for
The reason that it would not add,
in the long run, to the expense Of labor,
and that it would be educating In
he highest degree in their several situations
class of men superior toaIy:hing that could
DC obtained under uncertain employment,
while the general excellence of the NEE en-
)loyed would enable them to diminish
he number employed in particular service,
md their operations would never be inter-
upted bys the refusal of their employees to
work for the officers and the workmen they
provided for are more interested in the sue
ess Of the corporation than either the share
olders or the bondhoders.
This suggestion may be considered crude,
nut there is encouragement to believe that il
ould be successfully applied in all our great {
for the reason that governments
which practice the civil service, are enabled
0 obtain the highest quality Of skill, long O
experience and talent, at much less cost than I