The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-04
FACTS In THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM.
BY HON. HENRY b. METCALF.
(Pawtucket, r. ~

(Pawtucket, X. ~
The article in THE UNIvERsALIsT
of Aug. IA, entitled, "Some other
Thoughts about Labor and Capital"
being, in part, a review or criticism Of
paper of mine, which your readers have
not seen, is in some measure an embar-
rassment to me. Its author is my es-
teemed friend, with whose views 1
generally enjoy hearty sympathy, but,
in the present instance, l am compelled,
rather reluctantly, to accept the posi-
tion of his friendly critic.
His paper is, in the main, excellent,
and would be practically complete, in
itself, without any reference to any
thing 1 have written. He establishes
his own premises, which are such as 1
have no inclination to take exception
to, and proceeds with his argument
thereon. His reference to my paper, in
connection with his argument, is but
incidental, and he uses less of my words
than of his own interpretations of what
l mean or do not mean by them, and
therein deprives me of the opportunity,
if had the inclination, to explain.
| have to note, first, that my paper
pWrported to be only the recitation 'cf
s'some of my thinking on capital and
labor" l touched, very briefly. of
course, on good many points, and GER
tainly made no pfetension to complete
elucidation of any problem whatever.
| stated good many existing condi-
tions of human affairs, simply because
they exist, making no attempt to pro-
nounce upon their merit or deRerit.
invite Br. Adams's attention to his
seeming Interpretation of my use of the
term, law of trade,' and beg to say
that presented neither it's defense nor
its rigid definition, but only asserted
that such a law, however defined, had
actual existence, and must be recog-
lllLCu dl4O cOCOPIC0 GO dA CfOLACllb III bNC
problems of capital and labor. 1 re-
cited the almost universal practice of
buyers to SO plan their purchases as to
secure the best available returns for the
money expended. expressed neither
approval nor condemnation of this ten
dency, because my argument then in
hand did not call for such form of
treatment. 1t was a presentation of
fact, not discussion of merit or fault,
and of a usage that the business COM
munity must recognize because it ex-
lists and while it exists, whether or not
it ought to exist.
L must utterly demW at the refer
ence to my shirt making illustration,
because of the omission to recognize it's
vital feature. My defense was of an
over worked woman with scanty re-
sources, who, because of her serimped
purse, must either bay cheap shirts for
her husbands wear, or toll in the night
hours to produce those indispensable
garments. I did not introduce the
question whether Br. Adams or / would
be justified ia buying low-prieed shirts
that we believed to be the product of
underpaid labor. This question may
be, and probably is, as important as
anything that diseu ssed, and am in
no wise unwilling to see it fully venti-
lated. Simply, it is one of many ques-
tions that 1 did not examine, whatever
its Importance.
l am utterly unconscious that my
paper contains anything that justiies
any assumption that l defend the fall
lacy, whatever is is right, " but L do in
sist that there can be no profitable dis
cussion of economic questions that for
gets or neglects existing facts as An
element in the problem.
am not unwilling to discuss any
of the propositions submitted by my
frie, dly critic, but he does not need my
assistance in that behalf. l feel sure
that our aims would be found substan-
TALLY identical. If we should be found
to differ in methods, or forms of ex-
preston, it might justly be explained
by the fact that his standpoint is that
of student, while mine is that of act
i've experience. Each position has its
vantage ground, and neither may justly
assume superiority to the other, but
they are not alike, and ought to be
made helpful each to the other.
That best portion of good mans life
his little, nameless, unnumbered acts of