Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-10-06
Capital and Labor.

Harry Sharpley, Esq, SAID petoFe INC ~
Municipal Courl yesterday morning IN 10
response to n question from Judge ~
Cammius, that these labor strikes anu III
troubles would never cease until CAP "a
tai aud LABOR shall come together upon 1i
a eommlu basis aud the worktngmah u
he awarded an equal voice in determin- IL
ing the compensation lie shall receive "
for his LABOR Mr.. Sharpley's reply | u
wa, direct one and the popular one ID
that has been this leading argument In p
the labor troubles of late years.
Mr.. Sharpley would have served the II
public good service If he had as readi
liz pointed out the way by which this
desirable end could be reached. Ihere
are only two parties in the ca-e-capl-
tai and laboi md one regulates the p
other. The man who owns the capital
has and always will have the advan-
taze. He eau inves. his capital where
he pleases, when he pieases and IN what :
he pleases. His money is his own aad
no law OF the land can compel him TO 9
invest his money in any business, or at
any time, that does not prove remu-
lucrative to him. Nobody will say that
he should be compelled TO invest his
money, keep his establishment open
and pay the highest prices for labor,
when he is losing money on his invest
ment. So much for the capitalist
Now word for labor That is the
other component part OF the manutac-
turing business of the country. IL Will
be seen at once that it starts out under
q disadvantage. Labor has but the
brains, the bone and sinews, that put
manufactures in motion. The latter
cannot be run without both. One is
dependent upon the other.
Labor comes in at the bidding Of the |,
capitalist to do his work. For 80 much |
money labor builds his mills and for 80
much money labor does his work after
wards. II there is plenty OF work.
labor commands good wages if labor
exceeds the demand, the capitalist has
the right 10 take advantage OF 1t. he
gets his work done at she lowest market
value of work just as labor goes out TO
the market and purchases bread and
mea., stuffs and clothing at the Lowest
market value.
But when capital ceases TO be profit
able, where is the power or the law that
can compel it to pay out higher wages
than is profitable? 1t will be seen at
once that capital will be compelled to
close its doors as being she more profit
able course to pursue The capitalist
finds it more profitable to let his money
lay idle than to carry on business at a
loss. When capital shuts itself up, then
labor has to cease.
Mr.. Sharpley knows that combina-
lions and agreements have been made
between capital and labor by which
business has been carried on, capital re-
serving to itself smaller percentage O
profits and labor o smaller percentage
wages. In many cases capital has con
scented to be used without remunerativ,
improvisation for the oened. Of labor
Twill be seen at once how foolish il i
then for labor TO attempt to force CAPT
tai beyond what it will bear. Wac
business is good, capital needs 10 tore
ing. 1t will leap a. oaAa to take a.
vantage OF any favorable hrefza tA|
may sprirg up, and labor Is .3Eet q
70 force it.
But there is another p0in. 10 IT,
labor question, which does not loo
An1itable in these labor troubles 81
that poin. was brought out yestefl.
in the hearing before the Muuicip
Court A firm came 10 this CITY Fl.
Haverhill, Mass8- -. isetts, and eagag
in morocco manufacturing, and {
ployed man as their foreman
"a objectionable TO a labor organ
ton. ,.x
They Are called upon TO discharge
nan under the threat Of strike, al!
man with plactTa on his per
marches to and fro upon the pavem
forevarnirg all morocco wofkmeA
To work for that firm, until that OBJ
Honable foreman is discharged
course this had formidable mean
Thou oh there was no actual 6sturba
of the peace, the meaning Oft wss
there would be If any other pc
vent to work for the firm x..t.hont
consent OF this labor organize
This seems like carrying the man
of a secret labor organization to
length. While labor unions ma
made Of great advantage to the l
ing class OF people, they become ty
when they assume to dictate To ca
or rather TO bnsifiess firm what |
cuiar man 1t employs, either az a
man. or in other capacity. IL do
anpear that this foreman Who'll o.
ed to Ia harsh man, that heis ha
tboss under him, that he is In a
spect dissolute or I'M moral, that
not understand his business. no
he ia not honest nor good citi2s
simply that he 10 an expelled N
Of labor union
We are inclined TO the opiniof
this Ia rather extreme action
have a perfect right to object to
man and refuse TO work under
their remedy lies In working
where, where there are less OF
able foremen, without compel
firm to discharge q man who is
fall employe, and to force al
workmen into idieness until h'
, charged. This does not look Iii
harm onious way Of bringing Ia
capital together in anicaole rel
the manner in which Mr.,
outlined yesterday morning
THE Democrats of OHIO are
in their hardest ticks to carry
"A zion next Tuesday. Even