Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-03-11
The Labor Crisis

Those who are not anxiously await
Ing for an Office under the new admin.
1stration, are awaiting the advent OF
better times. We do not like to say
anything that will discourage depressed
commerce. manufactures and labor,
but to tell the truth, which we always
onoeavor to do, we are compelled "
say that there is very little pros ect OF
having "a good times for year AT least
to come as we had year ago. 1t Is
useless to look for any very sudden re-
vtval In business at this time. That
industries will revive cannot be doubt
ed, but they cannot revive suddenly.
The law OF recovery from stagnation
hardly ever varies in any essential par
oculsr. The descent into and the rs.
cent out Of trade stagnasion is about
equally graded, neither Of them being
very abrupt. FIRST one stitch is drop
ped, and then another and still an-
Other, until we are at the bottom, and
As we ascend stitch after stitch us, be
taken up In the order in which they
were dropped. Some lines OF produc-
tion precede others in the process Of
recovery, but prosperity never comes
IN fact uuN the line is in full opera
tion. It would be we'll for employers
and the employed both to bear these
things in mind, and shape their course
accordingly.
The Secretary Of theF all River, NJ ass. =,
Spinners' Association seut out on Mon
day q circular containing a great
amount OF truth in nut shell. He
says that the condition of the print
cloth market affords no encouragement
70 operators to expect any marked or
Immediate improvement in trade. The
investor In mills and machinery is
earning little or nothing on hls invest
ments, and the men and womsn who
tend the machines are barely able TO
live on their utmost earnings. Under
these adverse circumstances he coun seis
harmony between both parties in order
that each may assist the other to
weather the stress.
This is most excellent advice, and
our unemployed labor should profit by
1t. The market cannot be forced. To
attempt to do so would only result IN
further stagration. There will be re-
vival of business some time in the near
future, but it will not be- sudden. neither
will labor strikes at the present time
assist resum ption of trade. Ii should
not be forgotten that IL is not wages
that creates the demand for labor, but
that IL is the demand for labor that
creates wages. When tbs demand
crowds the supply, wages must rise in.
evitahly, tor the manufacturers must
NIL their orders. and this cannot be
done without labor. The demand for
labor must always regulate the wage
rate in country so vast in its resources
as this When the demand for pro-
ducts crowds the supply, the organize
tions o. working neH can al Wi W xpect
commensurate advance in wages. but
when the supply exceeds the demand
strikes are losing ventures. Ths manu-
facturers lose something, but the strik-
ing workmen lose mora, because they
lose all. Labor that is no. getting now
what it got year ago should BIZ cor tent
Tor the present. 1t may seem hard TO
not get mo-e wages than will barely
keep soul and body together, but the
situation will not be improved by
knocking off work and going on strikes.
Let us all have patience, and let the
wounds OF industry aud trsde have
time 10 heal, gradually but surely.