The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-05-04
GM ~qttaGgtneer,
wHEELINo, W, va, MAY 4, 1886
,r und wages,

Prof.. Henry Adams, who lila the chair
Of political economy in the Cornell Uni
y%ersity, makes public some views on the
labor question, from which We take the
following:
Thefact is that the present organization
nj industries is unfortunate in the ex'
frame, We shall look in vain for peace
md ouiet until it is radically modified.
Strikes and lockoutB arc the legitimate
and NECESSARY results OF the wages system
and ali that that system implies. They
ara mari OF a great social movement, and
a snciaI movement cannot DO manipulated
INTO ,%xistence by ambitious leaders or de-
sivninp d%emagogues. Our modern society
willie granting political privileges, has de-
priyei the laborer of certain rights he
nnce epioyed, lie is no longer proprietor
nj Tools OF material or Of product, nor
does he longer enjoy tenure OF employ
ment. Ii may bs Ifue, ~ Mr., Gould says,
that under tho conditions labor is Sub
igcIed TO the law ii sIpply and demand,
INIT this is no necessary part oil 4 wei! or
ganIzsd industrial society.
Tue true rule for wages is that they
should lluCtuate with the profits oil the
industry in which the labOrers are Gu
gagged. The wages syatem must eventI'
ally give way before some form QLorRGn'
lied industry, which shall realize the
principle underlying cooperation, Mr..
Gould 10 right in commenting labor or
CARNATIONS as insuTSnce CJmpAnleg, but
trade unions are equally necessary to
place the laborCr OH All equal footing with
capital Tor purposes OF contract. 1t Is
only through combinations that the Ia
borer can enforce u recognition oil the
right OF arbitration in labor difficulties,
and il is only when the right Of 'arbltra-
ton is recognized aud employers arc will
ing 10 meet their men OH an equal footing
that laboreTs can hOpO to emanCipRte
themselves from the evils Of being con.
sidered as commodities, 1t is without
douDL truu that In the recent strikes the
Knights Of Labor did many foolish things
and urged many unnecessary claims, but
their misjudgments should not blind the
public to tho fundamental principle IN
vOlved in the labor controversy. This
principle isthat the benefits oil proprietor
chip shall DO guaranteed to all who are
engaged in industries OF any kind. To
secure this the lnborer must have perma.
nent employment during good behavior
and tho right to live in hard times from
the fund Of capital created by him in
flush times, and that lie shall have some
control over the conditions aud tho rules
regulating his employment.
Organization, arbitration, and finally
proGt.sharipg-a conclusion at which
other thoughtful men have already arrlv-
ed. Organization We have, andithas come
to stay. The wage.earner has leaned his
Btrength In association, and he knows that
In no other way is he a match for the
forces arrayed on the other side. Organic.
alton will DO perfected, 30 as not only to
add numbers but to use them to the best
advantage and with the least cost 10 the
country, which represents labor in It's
grand aggregate.
Arbitration has secured a ioothold. 1t
has already accomplished good results in
spite Of some dlsappointments and not
withdrawing 1t has been resorted to in
only q few cases and has been attended
with some disappointments. Arbitration
Is capable Of comforting great benefits,
and 1t may lead by IN easy transition to
some form Of proitsharing, Of which we
have already a slight and imperfect fore.
taste in the sliding scale.
The details Of such u system may he
difficult to a%nalyzs, but we believe the
way can and will be found. The way
once found, we shall have concluded an
industrial peace and established the foun.
dalton Of q society based oil mutual good
will between the millions engaged in pro.
dnctiYe industry.