St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-06
CAPITAL AND LABOR
Discussed by the Brotherhood of
Carpenters and j oiuers.

Discussed by the Brotherhood of
Carpenters and JOiners.
An open meeting of the Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners, for the discussion
of the labor question, was held Monday
evening at Knights of Labor hall, which
was well attended.
r. Fl. Shadrick of Minneapolis and G.
W. Stevenson of st. Paul were expected to
be present, among others, as speakers, but
both were necessarily absent. Interesting
remarks were made by G. A.
Lafayette, who spoke on the
present situation and the remedy of
for its evils. He called to mind the changes
wrought in this section during the past
fifty years and gave the glory to Labor, the
philosophers stone which turns the crudeSt
elements to myriad forms of beauty and
utility. In speaking of capital and labor
he said the point lay in the judicious APP
plicatioD of capital. A man might
have a certain power and influence
and he might use it to
the detriment of others. 1t was the wrong
use of capital and the system that allowed
this wrong use that he objected to. The
capitalist sits on hill. heaped by thous-
and toilers, proud master OF the slaves be-
meath him. He found no fault with the
man, but honored the genius that rose. The
error lay in the state of affairs that made
such things possible. Poverty is the result
of the accumulation of too much
wealth in the hands of too few people.
This system existed because of the neglec
of we who have the power to change it.
We have remedy and that is. organization
and the right application of that organize
ton. To organize is not enough. The
organization must be aggressive. Suppose
a man was seeking laborers and he came to
lot of men and asked the price of
their labor. One man said SIS, the next 81,
the next IS, and so on until the employer
got his help at 81 day. Again. suppose
each man had said S.. The employer
would have to pay the price. That Illus
trateS the power Of organization applied.
1t was the duty Of every workingman to
come into the organization that Is working
for the interests OF humanity. He did not
advocate the use of dynamite or the she'd
ding of blood. The amelioration of the
workingman was to be brought about
through the dictates of reason and hui
manity.
A. l.. Robinson spoke briefly, saying that
we wanted to put the children of the next
generation in a little better condition than
those of the present one.
After adjournment, number of names
were added to the roll Of members.
"THE TREND"
Minneapolis Views Upon Co-opera-
tion.-.seme Sermons.
To the Editor of the Globe:
''The trend" was the term used on
Il hi
regard to the great social movement of the
day. He remarked that 1.-The trend" of the
age was toward cooperation. AS the rev.
rection and promised great blessings
for the future, his sermon will
be regarded as another good sign.
As the writer of this notice was not so
fortunate as to be present, and, in default
of the usual newspaper report. is compelled
to rely on a brief verbal statement of the
general tenor of the sermon, he is not able
to give a full and accurate account of the
positions taken and the arguments
used But the above statement is
sufficient foundation for a few remarks.
Rev. DR.. Christie. the leading Presbyterian
minister in St. Paul. few weeks since
read an essay to the ministers of that city,
showing that cooperation is the coming
system. Rev. Mr.. Smith. at the same meet
ing. Endorsed what DR.. Christie said. and
gave proofs of the truth of his statement:
from his own personal experience in Eng
land in cooperative districts. So far
| many thanks to these reverend gentlemen
But we wish them to go further and to dc
| more.
| RNow. what is ''trend?" Webster de
fines it as a direction or tendency" Anc
what is the cause of trend? 1t is some
| thing set in motion and made to pursue
certain direction by the efforts OF man. or Il
it merely current in life's ocean caused by
the innate tendency of things and events!
Ii the trend spoken of be caused or aldee
by the efforts and sacrifices Of men, have We
not claim On all who believe it good thing
and full of blessings to humanity, to givt
1t a push? If cooperation be in accord
ance with the spirit and teachings of Chris
uanlty, then competition is the reverse anG
deserves reprobation as a moral evil. An(
to whom, then, should social reforms lool
with more hope of sympathy and aid thai
to teachers of morality and religion? Is i
enough for them to notice the .strend.
comment it as right and pass on with merel,
this word of approval?
! 1t is simply desired, at present, to call tn,
attention of the religious teachers referred
to above to the important fact. that thi
great social movement which many regar,
as the application of the law of love to bus
ness life, has received and is receiving bu
little help from the leading educators il
literature, science, morals and religion. S.