The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-23
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
MIR. Crows Words of Wisdom
Before the State Board Of
Agriculture.

The PENNSYLVANIA state Board of Agricul-
tire resumed its sessions here to-day. 4
large number of papers were read on sub
jccts of Interest to the member. In the ev-
ening Galusha A. Grow delivered AN address
on agriculture before a large audience
In the course Of his remarks hc said that
next to agriculture the question of greatest
national concern is labor. OF all the pernic-
ious influences, said Mr.. Grow, which lead To
national decay the most balefnl is a policy
that legraios oF inIpoHerishcs labor. The
strength of nations consists not in fleets and
armies. hut in the manly spirit of an indie
Iendent yeomanry and in the intelligence,
comfort and happiness of the laboring classes.
The principle is correct and just that labor,
whether of brain or muscle. ought 10 receive
out of the accumulation of wealth in proper
ton To what it contributes towards the ac-
emulation.
But in reducing this principle To practice,
in order to do it justly the fact must not be
overlooked that in all pursuits labor is paid
in current expense during the continuance
of the business, whether there is any final
profit or not. Authentic statistics show that
a very large per cent. o fall kinds Of business
ends in bankruptcy, thus sinking whatever
amount of capital may have been invested.
In all such eases il is clear that labor receives
It's full proportion or more, for it shares no
part of the losseS.
The real solution of the labor problem in
this country is 10 determine how high the
wages or compensation for labor can 20 with
out destroying labor itself. The deternina-
ton of that point is its only solution; all
else i merely the expediency OF pailiativeS.
Arbitration well enough in itself, caly set
ties the existing dispute, which may arise
again in the same or a different shape a. Of
Ten a. it is settled. The cause of the dispute
i not hereby removed but remains the same
as before.
The higher the price labor can be paid and
retain the market for lis products the better
ii is for everybody, and to that point in all
cases the employer can 90, but beyond that
point il Is an im~possibility, for labor cannot
be paid in the production of AN article more
than the article itself viii sell for in market.
The market price for an article and the COM
pensation to be paid to labor in its produc-
ton is not. except 10 a limited extent fixed
by our country alone In respect 10 both we
are in competition with the markets of the
world.
A disagreement between the employer and
employe a. to the wages of labor is no more
a war between capital and labor than a disa-
grecmcnt between the merchant and his Gus
TONER as To the price of articles Offered for
sale is a war between the producer and CON
sumner. Capital and labor are mutually de
pendent On each other and there can he no
conflict between them. The grievances OF
labor IN free elective governments, said Mr..
Grow. are TO bc removed in the same way rs
any other grievance Is rcmoved-by IN APP
peal 10 the intelligent Judgment of public
opinion. In free constitutional government.
with free speech, free press and universal bal
lot, there can he no excuse for a resort to yio-
hence for the correction of any grievance. In
such a government obedience 10 the q u
mands oflaw and the mandates of courts is
paramount to all else. No matter what the
grievances complained ofmay be, a resort to
lawless violence is an attack upon the rights
ofevcry law abiding citizen, upon organized
society itself. and if successful is the first
step in the road that leads TO anarchy and
national ruin.
An enlightened public opinion in a free
government will in the end correct all real
grievances. if peaceable means only are en-
plOyed. II may require time and patience
but that j. the case with all attempts To re
move l-ong-standing abuses. No cause, great
or small was ever yet benefited by the viola
lion of fundamental principles of right. God
rules the universe by immutable laws of jus
tice, and it i in vain FOR man to attempt to
nullify them, one mans rights end where
another's begin. is the fundamental principle
of all just laws and is the basis of civilized
society. Liberty * the right of every person
10 engage in any lawful pursuit for a livcli-
hood, and continue therein, without him
drance or mnlcstation by amy other person
and il i dcspotism in its worst form that de-
prives him of this right, Il crime against hu-
manity scarcely less than the taking of life
itself