New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-04
MR. ELKINS ON The LABOR QUESTION:

Mr.. ELKINS ON The LABOR QUESTION.
The address of Mr.. Elkins at the University
of Missouri will attract not little attention.
The occasion renders the utterance OF an iniu-
ential and distinguished citizen especially note
worthy. Many of the ablest and most cult
waited men were gathered there, not merely
from the West, but many also from the East
including the scholarly Secretary OF otate'
Noticing the prominence OF Mr.. ElKlns Us
political manager last year, not q lew iiau
forgotten that he had been for years distlh-
gushed as a thinker, leader and speaker
before he had taken any part III poiiticai man
| a0ement. His address shows such range OF
thought, and such force and independence III
thinking. that few who read it will imagine that
| he is one of those who have become prominent
nv accident. It will be assaed most savagely,
but those who assail it will not be slow to
concede that it is an able and scholarly address,
| from bold and vigorous thinker, who mas
studied the most difficult and important prob
| lem of the time with great earnestness.
The industrial problem as presented in the
United States is stated with great clearness ana
| force. The marvellous material progress OF the
| country, and the glowing hopes OF progressive
minds, are strongly described and serve well TO
introduce the statement of the prevailing
discomfort. For discomfort prevails, IN spite Oh
| political freedom, the want of which goes lar 10
| account for industrial disturbances abroad.
The outcry of labor is heard even here. The
| feeling grows, and is not confined 10 the
| workers themselves, that the relation OF
workers to employers needs to be changed;
| that change is needed in the distribution OF the
products of their labor. The question is
brought home to us now by widespread dis
aster. 1t is shown to be both an industrial and
| social question, which threatens grave conse-
ouences Slavery, also an industrial question,
once threatened the country, and just and
peaceful settlement was refused. Inc result
was a civil war. Mr.. Elkins believes that
peaceful and just methods must be applied III
time, that candid inquiry and spirit OF a true
brotherhood must direct the solution OF the
problem, or grave results will follow. Inc law
which moves human society steadily onward
and upward will not be arrested III ITS opera
ton. and if resisted, so that its ends can be
reached only by turmoil and strife and suffer-
ing, the end will come only at greater cost
Mr.. Elkns holds that this country, with its rare
opportunities, is of all others the place for the
settlement of the problem, and that 1t is folly
to hope that the question will settle itself. III
is for the people of this generation 20 say
whether a wise and just settlement shall be
reached by gradual and peaceful methods, or
by a far more costly strife.
Mr.. Elkins shows that wages have advanced,
but that human desires also grow and ought to
grow as fast as the means OF supplying them.
Labor has a right to insist that it shall have
full share of all the increased production result
ing, not merely from toll, but from skill and
invention. Putting aside all socialistic or COM
munstc remedies the speaker endeavors to
ascertain what the common interests of the
whole people demand. He shows that over
production is not the evil, for the people want
all that can be produced He shows that free
trade is not a remedy, because in other
countries where free trade exists the depression
is greater than here. The root of the difficulty
is that labor is not adequately honored, and
that classes not living by labor are allowed to
absorb too large a share of its products. with
force and with courage he urges that justice to
the laborinc people is the only path to success
for any party or to prosperity for any nation.
Among the remedies discussed are, first, a use
of corporate power in the interest OF labor,
whereas the advantages and powers of incor-
|
exclusively to the service of capital. 1t is
urged that education is the one thing ncedfnl,
and wiser education than that usually
obtained. Capital and labor have both much to
learn and when they comprehend their mutual
dependence and realize that the best interests
of both can be served by acting as partners ana
not as foes it may be hoped that both VIII
honestly work together in harmony. what
Government can do to assist the solution OF the
problem is considered with some detail. Most
of all, it can educate; then it can provide
better land laws and greater freedom IN the
transfer and use of real property. But Mr.
! Elkins rightly insists that the people must not
depend on their Government. Much can be
done, he urges, by corporate action, and
| instances are given of most honorable efforts
| for the advancement OF workers by those
"captains of industry" who have charge Of
many important corporations. The proved use
fulness of arbitration in Pennsylvania is
pointed out, and the splendid results of CO.
operation in Great Britain. A methOd of profit
! sharing is outlined, and its admirable results
| foreshadowed, the speaker believing that such
a SYSTEM by interesting the workers themselves
in the success of every industry, would increase
its products and the profits of capital.
| Two forces press irresistiby toward some solu-
ton, the power of labor already organized, and
the influence of public opinion rapidly advancing
in appreciation of the problem. The address
will strongly impress many minds, because 1t
seeks, as few men in these days do, TO bring a
genuine progressiveness and just conserva-
tism to the consideration of problem usually
treated in the spirit of the partisan or Of the
demagogue.