St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-19
Mistakes of Capital and Labor Discussed
at Length at the Labor
Lyceum.
Rev. S. G. Smith in His Sermon Says the
Condition of the Laboring Man
is Improving.
Press Club Doings--A Beneht Per-
formance of Harris Circus--
For Low License.
Billy Wilson acknowledgements ior
Base Ball--Local Events
of Sunday.
THE LABOR LYCEUM.
Mistakes of Capital and Labor
Largest Meeting of the Series.

Mistakes of Capital ana huDor
Largest Meeting of the Series.
Every chair was filed at the opening Of
the Labor Iyceum last evening. The presl-
dent, j. NJ. Minor announced that III order
to shorten the meetings somewhat remarks
would hereafter be limited to five minutes
for each speaker
j. c. Hanley read an interesting paper
on Mistakes of Capital and Labor, of which
the following is an abstract.
Capital makes n mistake 10y refusing TO recog-
nize organized labor, and insisting that the
employees shall not be members OF labor orga-
nizations. Capital makes a mistake by not
going TO the bottom of the principles upon
which labor unions are built and becoming
acquainted with the real motives of difheul-
ties Capital should not arrogate TO itself the
right 10 make rules whereby employees are
rendered to the verge OF STARVATION.
Capital should not reduce wages with
out due elaboration and WITH
out real necessity, arising from de-
pressed condition of trade. When dlfhcuiues
arise between capital and It's employees IL
should divest itself of all stilted dignity, and
coming down TO a common plane, listen 10 any
grievance that may be presented, without
subjecting its employees TO modification by
acts of Impotence or imperiousnesS. When
difficulties are adjusted let cspItal hNe lalth-
fully up 10 its agreements. Capital does not
and it should be as ready to advance wages in
times OF prosperity.
MISTAKES OF LABOR.
In consideration OF the mistakes OF labor
take for my text the manifesto issued at the
commencement of the Southwestern strike.
Labor unions make mistake by not recog-
niZing the fact that there is ii bare possibility
that there is a large community of people
outside OF labor unions who must earn living.
Labor unions make a mistake when they say
to these people, You must become one of US
or YOU cannot work with us. Labor in asking
an advance Of wages should not do so in a
conspicuous manner, but only after thor
oughly investigating the conditions or their
industry, and should give reasonable notlce
before the demand goes into effect. EXor-
bitant demands should be avoided. The set
Element of difficulties should not, as is often
done, be intrusted 10 committee of intlam-
matory aud strong-minded individuals who
precipitaIe Il strike. The labor organlZa-
tions are credited with the spirit they
show and the mistakes they make. Such men
are labor's worst enemies. No threats should
be made, and settlements should be made
fairly and diSpassionately. After a settle
ment labor should not gloat over its victory
and the power OF its order. Demands should
be explicit and TO the point. Labor unions
make a mistake by insisting on one schedule
of wages for all their members. Another
mistake is in allowing all kinds of individuals
TO Join them, some of whom have never
learned their trades and who use the union as
a cloak to cover their shortcomings.
Labor has the right to quit work, but
has no right TO prevent others from taking
their places. Labor is scarcely ever plunged
into difficulties on account of its principles,
but generally on account OF violation OF Its
principles The worst feature that labor
unions permit is the presence OF the dema-
gogue. the crank and the blatherskite, who
use labor organizations TO advance their own
interests. and who pose as intellectual giants
and reformers, regarding themselves self
appointed delegates to represent the labor
element on all occasions. My remedy is to
Ere them at once and act only on the princi-
pies upon which labor unions are built.
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
G. A. Lafayette rose to reply to some OF
the points He said:
Every precaution advised in the paper had
been anticipated by trades unions at least
three years. There are but very few men in
labor organizations who can be charged with
being demagogues. The representative OF
organized labor cannot speak as freely as h'
might wish because he remembers the
injunctions imposed by his order
1t is untrue that any man may join a trade:
union. Before a man can become a member
of a trades union his skill and standing in hi.
trade. as well as his moral standing, are care
fully inquired into by committee. The prin
ciple of trades union is not a selfish one, buI
they seek to benefit each other in every way
dDu uundIlllg III Stlitidl- lnc bIlShiugOi'
pay SIS on the death of members wife anC
IS q week as sick benefits. The present con
f1ict is not between capital and labor, but be
tween monopoly and labor.
A. l.. Robinson said:
The gentlemans essay is way behind the
times. have belonged to trades uuioI
since 1856, and know that there is as mucl
difference between trades unions then an,
now as between day and night. l don't know
but what am one of those blatherskites, bu
my tongue will keep wagging in the interest
of labor as long as it is able TO He said tina
he wanted to see all the bosses in the city a
these meetings and they would e welcomes
with every courtesy possible. The gentleman
who read the paper was on the outside ant
didn't look through the same spectacles h
did.
A member of the Carpenters union state,
that the union had committee out twt
months before the issue of the circular rea'
at the previous meeting, trying to get tn
sentiment of the contractors on wages ant
hours, and that the circular was merely
notification that nine hours had been de
cided on at the old rates per hour.
On motion of Mr.. Badger a committe
was appointed to confer with the proper au
thorities with view to have arbitration
yes" or arbitration, no." printed on tn
tickets of both parties at the coming cleo
ton to get at the sentiment of the public o.
the question. Mr.. Charles Nevenger wa
requested to read paper at the next meet
inp