The Labor enquirer., 1885-05-23

S"i i0poieo lCCclFcu DOul Gllo NdElOus
mines operating directly under the ar
rangement of the Cancellation Board, l
find that for the month of April the ay-
erage gross earning OF the diggers did
not exceed S31 From this amount must
be deducted the co0t of powder, tools,
oil and blacksmith1ng. which / find to
be about eight per cent This, deducted
from the gross amount earned, will leave
to the miners a net income of only
$3.50. "
The average number of days thatthe
slopes and shafts hoisted co;Il was eleven
and half, but the miners at several of
the mines have practice Of going into
the mines upon days chat they are con-
sidered to lay idle, in order to make pro-
vision for hosting days. l make note of
this fact because there some few opera
tors who wish to make it appear that
their men make S. aid Sc g. day; when
the real fact of the matter Is, that there
has been two or three days actual labor
performed.
Some of the mines, taking separately,
show much higher average than others,
bv reason of the 3act that they keep
barely a sufficient nu nber Of hands en-
ployed to produce tho necessary output.
At the other mines the operators are far
more agreeable with the men, and in
stead of drawing ouG" and placing men
upon the road when they do not know
where to turn to find a job, they allow
their men to divide up with other breth-
ren, pursuant to the policy 'live, and let
live" Thisis com mendable practice,
and the operators that treat with our
men in this fair spirit will not fail to win
our esteem. Those few operators or
bosses that are always rolschievously
restless, and never satisfied unless they
are "bucking" against US, will find out
one of these DAYS that they have been
Cutting rod to whip themselves" II
warning will not do, let the fools 60
ahead until they are brought to their
proper senses, or have rushed headlong
to destruction.
The man that abuse the confidence of
my constituents or myself forfeits all
right to my sympathy, and care not
how soon my dealings with such dishon-
orable men come to an end, ! want these
men to be straightforward in their course
and quit pursuing eyerlast'ngly an eva
sive policy, or tell US candldly what they
mean. I have ALWAYS been conservative
in my policy, but when l see all unscru-
pulous person continually evading being
Just, and seeming taking advantage of
his position to fight against us upon all
occasions, he converts US into radical.
will be conservative only so far as con-
seryatism will meet the case, but the
moment 1t fails and i see chat have to
deal with roughs, that moment depart
from that spirit, and will become less
easy to handle,
As we'll as censuring the fen l wish to
give credit to the naCuay who have been
honorable throughout in their dealings
with the Board; with the men under
their immediate charge, and with myself
personally.
Upon referring to the statistics herein
given, and viewing the fact that the net
earning is IN adequate to meet the neces-
sites of life where there are families to
be provided for, l trust the good sense
of the operators of the entire north-in-
Guiding Franceville--will lead them to
see that to insist upon reduction from
the present rate-under such circum-
stances-woud be cruel and for that
they will cast aside the idea altogether.
1t Is time that we abandoned the fol-
lies of the past and established business
principles based upon sound sense.
All will aimit that "the laborer is
worthy of hishre," and political econo-
mists will tell IS that wages are regulated
by the supply md demand, but in class
flying manual abcr in the same category
with raw mateisl and commodities, they
forget that in pplying the law to labor
it can only be made practicable so far as
maintaining th physical system in order
to be of servic to society while, when
applied to dea' products that neither
eat, drink nor equire sustenance of any
kind, it is of curse practicable in every
particular. In rider to make labor pro-
ductive the labrer must be nourished
and only in reocing him to the loves
possible standai at whicn he can exis
is the law opertive. When this poln
is reached we find that the law II
checked, and tere is humanitarian
principle apple. But why is 1t neces
sary to reduce te wages of workingmer
to this basis bete applying this princi
Pile? Why notpply it before this stag
is reached2 Bauae capitalists IN thei
greed, and blin,with self-interest, anx
ious to grab all .e world to themselves
rush competitio to point that ruins al
concerned. Conetition must be checked
before that poinis reached, and can b
done at one stag rs we'll as another
providing all actiesce therein. 1ntelll
gent action on Il Part of operators an
operatives can Ing this result about.
We are said toe progressive peopl
but we are slow adopt experiments
measures, even len experiences clearl