The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-06-20

A large part of the work dom in the world
is by corporations. They constitute a great
force i'm production, and will increase, ne
cause man derives advantages and Dement'S
from them which could not be had other
wise. Incorporation is but a form OF CO.
operation under the law. The evils that
have grown put OF corporations proceed
from the abuse OF their powers and PRIV
leges. The State has often been o iax IN
imposine conditions upon their creation.
In some cases they have been maze perpeC-
ual: in others the franchises have not been
properly guarded.
Heretofore corporations have been organ
lied mainly as the instruments OF capl1a,'
Hereafter as education becomcs generai,
nay not labor made a like use Ipf corpora
tions? May not the wage-recelvers COM
bine in their own interests, and become III,
c~orporated under the law for peaceiui
and legal action, to do their work IN q way
that will bring them the largest return:
This has not been done simply because OF
the want of education and lnteiiigehce'
Wage-reCeivers have made progress through
combination and bettered their condltloh'
but never when they have resorted TO Vlo-
lence or attempted coercion OF their ieiiows'
which is another form OF slavery: ExPer-
fence has proved that strikes and lockOuts,
which lead to violence and destruction OF
property, afford no satisfactory rehei.
Workers cannot afford to resist tne iaw.
BY obeying the law. by defending their W
interests with knowledge and foresight, ana
by wisdom and prudence in their conoue.,
thew create a public opinion which in the
end brings justice. 1t may be difficult TO
define the merits of the recent railroad
strikes in this State. This much may be
said, however, that the orderly OF
the men, their sobriety, their care to pre-
vent violence, and their judicious measures
to protect property. commanded respect
even from those who did not hin their
claims altogether reasonable.
Before any of the remedies offered for the
solution OF the industrial problem can ay all
man and society must he made ripe though,
preparation, the preparation that comes
from knowledge, wisdom, discipline and
restraint, and the active work OF the moral
forces. The atoms composing the organ
ism of society must be worked upon. Man
individually must be made better and
wiser, and selfishness conquered. Society
grows only by slow degrees. We are in the
infancy of the world. 1t is vain to hopefor
perfection at once-it is not to b expected.
Something must be left for those who come
after us. All this generation can hope to
do is to begin the work at once, and If it
takes one step in the right direction it Will
do well. As we advance, proper remedies
will appear, and those now forced on pub
lie attention in such abundance and with
so much confidence may prove useless:
There is much for the capitalist to learn
and do. He must learn that, as a matter
of policy, it is safer and better to be just;
that by agreeing to divide profits with the
worker upon some plan, he will make Tor
in the long run, and that competition. sup
ply and demand are not the only laws that
should govern the industrial world. He
must learn that wealth is only a trust, and
out of the abundance given to him he can
afford to spare a portion OF it in deeds OF
charity, and philanthrophy, and in helping
the deserving poor and unfortunate. There
is also much for the worker to learn. He
must know that the way to aid himself is
not through violence and coercion, but
through obedience to law; that he can by
proper effort do more to elevate himself and
better his condition than can be done for
him; that thrift, frugality and economy are
needed; that waste and intemperance are
his worst enemies. The use of alcoholic
drinks cost annually in the Unined States
more than nine hundred millions OtdO'lars,
a sum that exceeds the combined nnual
earnings of the railroads in the United
States.
OF HARMONIZING LABOR AND Cap
ITAL.
The methods which now seem to promise
the best results in solving the industrial
problem after knowledge becomes more gen.
eral and society better prepared for their
adoption, are
l.. Arbitration and Cancellation.
2. Cooperation, and
3. Profit sharing.
Arbitration, as q method of settling diff
>-A.o1,~ 1l.,rN orl S,nI1xilr,n1 l.
has already made great triumphs and Sc
cured the best results. In France and Eng
land arbitration and Cancellation have
made gratifying progress in adjusting differ
ences between capitalist and laborer. The
State of Pennsylvania has passed a law
providing regulations to gOverna arbitration
of disputes between employer and employed.
It has already prevented some strikes and
violence, and promises in the future to do
well. When employer and employed can
lay down their irritatiOns and grievances
sufficiently to meet as equals, and discuss
frankly and candidly the disputed issues
before a board of arbitration selected by
both parties, it is a great step gained.
The best fruits Of arbitration and concilia-
ton will only be gathered after education
and intelligence become more general. 1t
has been hindered by the want OF these, and
in the future, as progress in both is made,
it is not too much to hope that arbitration
and Cancellation will be the means adopted,
alike by nations and by individuals to adj
Just all differences. If war could be abOl-
ished, Europe would save seven hundred
and fifty millions annually, the cost OF
maintaining her armies, and would restore
to industrial pursuits 100000 of men.
Productive cooperation has made the
greatest progress in France; cooperative
credit aud banking in Germany, and dis
tributive cooperation in England. Thu
British official report shows that, in 1888,
there were 1 1928 industrial cooperative So
cieties. with 691, 961 members, and over
$45, 600, 600 working capital, whose sales
exceed $40, 600, 600, and whose profits
averaged % per cent, the average of Scotch
companies ever reaching SIS per cent. In
this country, as in all the countries named,
cooperation has been retarded by ack of
intelligence on the part OF laborers. Men
without education have been unable to
combine, or have lacked the ability, train
ing and dicipline to manage large or even
moderate business enterprises. Educate
the worker, furnish him the opportunities
for training and discipline, and cooperation
will be a success.
Incorporated cooperation has been sug-
gested as one mean of uniting the interests
VI uoA "hu SopaONiloo9 iOA IN PAo'Ac-
ion that the shares may be paid for i'll
and in labor, There are n ex-
cellent features in this plan.
Profit sharing, based upon industrial CO.
partnership seems t flrnish the best means
Of uniting the interests of employer and en-
ployed in agriculture, manufacturing and
other large business enterprises. Profit
sharing is not new in this or other coun-
tries; it has been adopted in agricultural
industry in portions of some of the South
ern and Western States, and is growing in
favor. The two forces employed in trans
acting business and producing wealth, are
labor and capital. The question is to unite
these forces in a way that the interests of
those controlling them shall be the same,
and not hostile, as now. Constant war be-
tween employer and employed has brought
great loss to both. Such war car be and
ought to be superseded by their becoming
partners, SO that both shall have an inter-
est in the business in hand. The interest
need not be equal at first. AS a basis, the
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