Morning journal and courier., 1885-06-09
coNGREaArroNAL oLun.


 The Labor and Capital Question
 With Paper on tlle Subject-The
 Need of a Thorough Looking Into
 the Matter-VariOus Speakers.
 At meeting of the Congregational club held last evening at Center church chapel, Rev. Dr. Newman Smyth presiding, the sub ject of labor and capital was the topic. About sixty ladies and gentlemen were present. United States Senator Platt led off with paper of considerable length but of much in- terest. He set forth in it that there was a need, an imperative need of intelligent and thorough enquiry into the relations of capi tai and labor to the end of advancing the we'll being of the laboring classes of this broad land of liberty. If there is anything that can be done to benefit the race Chris tians should be alert to help in the work of obtaining it. The whole subject merits the most careful examination. Senator Platt said he would in his paper present various subjects for investigation and lines of thought, rather than present remedies. He favored decidedly free public libraries 8 necessity for the advancement of the masses, and thought that free libraries
 
 He favored the introduction into the public schools of instruction in mechanical and do mestic work and complimented New Haven on having taken advanced ground on the subject, referring to the work in this line done in the Dwight and Skinner schools of this city. The principals of these schools were among the Senator's auditors. Senator Platt also spoke of the vast benefit the pub lie schools were in disseminating knowledge and driving away the mists of ignorance
 Intelligence was the great supporter of a republican form of government Senator Plattt hen spoke of the social discomfort en gendered by low wages, want of work, hard How were these evils to be overcomea How was the golden age of happi- ness to be reached wherein all men may share nearer alike the blessings of life. He called attention to the labor bureau, just set in motion in this State, as wise step in 8 good direction, and what was wanted of such a bureau wise discrimination, thor ough investigation and the like. Senator Platt was warmly applauded.
 Major R. P. Cowles followed with well pnt remarks in which he suggested that much of the friction between labor and capital could be obviated by just and sympathetic rela tion between employer and employed-by the establishment of the golden rule code of action between them. His remarks, coming from manufacturer of years standing, were especially interesting.
 Lawyer Henry G. Newton, of this city, spoke earnestly and to the point in regard to the question of wages now and fifty years ago. The drift of his remarks was that wages are higher in the farming districts and elsewhere now than fifty years ago and he was sangune that the world was growing better and mems condition improving.
 Judge Pickett and said that one ele- ment entering into the problem under discus 1koo olx <~E large number of immigrants who would work for far less prices than others received whose places they took. Look, he said, at the large influx of Italians into this city few years ago an Italian in New Haven was almost a curiosity. He thought that wise legislation and Christianity together were required to help solve the social prob lem.
 Professor s. E. Baldwin said this country was broad and large enough to shelter and feed all who came to it's shores Look at our boundless West for instance. MT. Baldwin thought the cries heard here of oppression and discontent were more than anything else the echoes from the old state of misery of many wage workers in the old world, ill other lands where men suffered and were ground down. Here how many thousands of workers there are who can not only live, but save money.
 The speaker said law and the statute books
  question. For instance, the law now prohib4 it's combinations of individuals to depress CT raise the prices of necessary commodities and provides that no such contract shall be bind ing; yet there is hardly business in New Haven which does not engage in some such does not make some con- tract of the sort. It seems to me that the true remedy is not so much statute law, but the exercise of good sense, good judgment and good temper on both sides. With this | 1 think we can look forward to prosperity.
 Rev. Dr. McLane was glad to hear Senator Platt's remarks on the power and influence of the schools. Ignorance was one cause of woe and discontent. Then there many wise 1 lessons on the relative value and nutri- tion of different varieties of food that might | be taught in the schools, and other whole some and practical knowledge that would | nelp ease the hard spots in life in households | where money is scanty The speaker also | made some telling remarks on the value and | success of arbitration between employers and employed, and illustrated them by ex- 1eriment cases among the workmen of the | Vest, and suggested the question as to | he limiting of the powers of great corpora | ions and referred to the sawmill mans case, which MT. Howells recently made use of in | lis new story. |
 Rev. Dr. Smyth then took the floor and said in the course of his remarks that social ! liscontent tends to destroy the budding and 1 growth of patriotism and that one joy of l man is to think that he can provide for his l children and for his own old age. How to elevate man and bless humanity was a noble ! question. He then spoke of the bureau of | nbor statistics just established and said we | could not well make comparisons of the con 1ition of wage workers in our State now and | :ormerly from the lack of official data or I records on the subject. What we want is l thorough, impartial, scientific determination | ha of,,l unless on the basis of thorough scien | fife investigation and facts. Dr. Smyth | showed by illustration from actual facts | n case he cited how difficult it is for gene rnl legislation to hit all cases equitably. In | closing he said" think We ought to congrat- 1 llate ourselves at the action of our Governor 1 n appointing chief for the labor bureau, not from motives of political expediency, and | that the head of the bureau is a gentleman | not only in sympathy with the moral ques- lions involved and qualified from thorough | study and on the question for the | 70 who is giving thoroughly ! cultivated brain and true heart to the study | # this question (applause.) Iknow whereof | speak and time will abundantly justify the | appointment"
 Senator Platt said he would add a word ,alled up by MT. Cowles' remarks and illus rated further the idea that when a manufac- urer has his heart in the right place and owes his fellow men and shows hem that he does, there is no trouble A Meriden manufacturer who was a man of his sort and had socialists and labor reform ITS and trades union men at work for him ret had no trouble and the men never struck md would fight for their employer.
 An amendment to the constitution was | given notice of by Dr. Darlington. It pro rides for making the admission fee $2 and | he yearly dues $3.