Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1884-12-19
MACHINERY AND LABOR.
Has Machinery Displaced Human Labor
Temporary Disturbances.

Has Machinery Displaced Human Labor
Temporary Disturbances.
New York Tsibune
In every civilized land, az this time, there
IL complaint that times are hard Every
where the cause is said by many 10 be over
production. But how can 70 be a cause 70
mankind TO have the objects OF human
desire supplied in greater abundance and
moro cheaplyi hthere IS overproduction oil
over the world, as some reason, that means
merely that the supply Of things useful for
human happiness Is greater all over the
world than the present demand In reply TO
this natural suggestion, we are told that a
vast amount Of labor has been displaced by
machinery, that general disturbance Of the
labor market has been caused, and that a
great number Of persons have been thrown
out OF employment The very change which
some call blessing brings ruin. TO many
producers, and forces many employers TO cut
down wages, and curtails the ability Of
workers To consume products Of other in
dustries Thus we are taught 90 believe that
the progress Of science and invention is a
progress toward human misery.
Is IL true, then, that machinery has dis
placed human laborl A century ago rela-
lively fewer persons were employed in any
other avoCation than in tillng the soil than
are now so employed. Machinery has Gre
ated a new world; it has cheapcned almost
everything that man desires. 1t has brought
within the reach Of the humblest not only a
vast number OF products w oily unknown
century ago, but luxurie, and comforts
which a century ago even The richest could
not afford 10 commonly enjoy. Meanwhile
has II displaced laborl Ga the contrary. 1t
l. Il.
OF the ruder arts which we,e formerly pur.
sued. Has 1t displaced the shoemaker No;
more persons than ever before are making
shoes. because more shoes are made and used,
cheapness permitting multitudes 70 wear
them who formerly could not. SO there are
more sewing girls, in spite OF sewing ma
chines
There are more farm-workers, in spite of
all the ricultural machines There are
more cotton and woollen and ilk weavers In
spite Of ihoD numerous Improvements
which seem 81 do with steam and iron the
work Of human hands better than human
hands could do IT, And 90 crown all. the
wages in all branches Of labor have risen.
In every occupation, from the rudest D the
most skilled, from farm labor TO the most
delicate manipulation Of tools and ma
chinery, labor Is better paid in money than
Il was before the age Of invention. And,
moreover, each dollar 81 the money re-
ceived will buy far more food than dollar
would have bought century ago, far more
clothing. and morn things for the supply OF
all human wants.
Thus IL is simply Numbering 20 say that
machinery does, OF can, In the long run, sup
plant OF displAce human labor On the
contrary, the use u machinery is limited
only by the human labor that can be- brought
TO employ IL. Every labor-saving invention
enables one human want 10 be more cheaply
supplied, 50 that part Of the human labor
expended IN satisfying II can lie turned 10
the supply OF other wants The overproduc-
ton theory, excep: as limited 10 very mar
row field, and within q narrow compass u
time is altogether without foundation The
human race as n whole does not suffer be-
cause It's powers Of production are increased,
or because its wants can he more easily and
cheAply supplied, or because things needed
Tor human comfort and Use are more abund-
intly produced. Temporarily, and within
ONE particular market, production may at
times 80 far outrun the demand that a dis
turbance results But this Is not the phe
uomenon which we are now witnessing.