The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-23
AMERICAS LABOR PROBLEM,
Additional Extracts from the Report Of
Labor Commissioner Wright.
Wages and the Tariff-Free Trade and Protec-
ton, and the Parts They Play-Views
on Suggested Remedies.

UAiSHt, OuVCI tuC uOdu, uAduuAoStu1AuS ANAsAOAo
Considered as Group in Relation to the Present
Depression" the Commissioner says: The scale
of wages in the countries named is according to
the following order, the highest first: The
United States, Great Britain, France, Belgium.
Germany. 1t is difficult to connect commercial
systems with this scale of wages, and when the
broad view is taken that each Of these countries
has over-stocked itself with machinery and
manufacturing plant far in excess of the wants
OF production, and when it is considered also
that the present period Of industrial depression
is unique in its character, as not having been at
tended with financial crises and home panics,
financial matters having been only incidentally
involved, and when it is considered, fur that
the condition of these nations has beer ched
under both free trade and protective p ices,
and under wide range of tariff restrictions. it
is readily seen that the family Of nations given
to mechanical production have reached an epoch
in their existence, and that commercial systems
which might have been at one time or under
some circumstances necessities are now appar-
emily only expediences to be used temporarily.
and not as permanent features of national
progress"
HISTORICALLY u6 BAY :, III uuSb Uo dutulttoU tudb
the two great opposing systems of free trade and
protection have played well their parts in the in
dustrial development of nations; but the wisdom
derived from the experience of all the nations in
the race for industrial success should teach each
that ultimately that system freest from restric-
tons will beget generally the best conditions.
Meantime, expediency has its power and must
continue to exercise it until the evil resulting
from changes can be met through the softening
influences which come from contest and hard
ships The struggle, far, has led to ever-re
curing periods Of depression. These considera
tons are shown to be valid through the informa-
ton collected by the bureau in all the countries
involved.
Considering suggested remedies for depres
sions the Commissioner says q halt should be
made in freely granting lands to corporations,
for, however valuable such grants may be 10 the
public interest in developing great lines of rail
way, the result is that the lands constitute ba-
sis to a greater or less extent for speculative
purposes. Legitimate voluntary immigration
may be too rapid to enable a country develop
ing its industries to assimilate labor from out
side but when immigration becomes a subject
of inducement, under contract, for the purpose
of displacing higher grade of labor,
the result is pernicous, and all the
authority of law should be called in to prevent
the continuance of the wrong. All the tradi-
tons of the country furnish arguments against
the regulation of voluntary immigration. Yet
voluntary immigration may do the industries of
trial world has arrived at what may be called
crisis period through the rapid extension of ma
chinery and the consequent over-development of
the industries, makes. Mr.. Wright thinks, the
doctrine that the United States offers an asylum
to the world, somewhat dangerous Laws to
stop speculation, if specifically applied. would do
good.
1t might be we'll to enact laws allowing no or
ganization to put its stock upon the market
without the full value of It's capital stock is paid
Ind MOL oNhif 10 vyolr ,ad hv1f 10 ho
successful in the least degree, it must be entire
ly voluntary on the part of those who intend to
submit their grievances to the decision of others.
The disposition to submit points In controversy
to the decision OF parties outside Of those imme-
diately concerned Is almost arbitration in ITSELF
and the parties not far apart in their opin-
ions The creation o8 hoard of arbitration by
law, for the sake of having convenient machin-
cry ready by which parties can have their diff
culties adjusted by the good offices of arbitra-
tors, would undoubtedly facilitate the growth of
the spirit of arbitration and in this direction the
suggested remedy has vital force; but boards of
arbitration created by law, must be so consti-
tuted as not to make them obstacles to indus
trial peace, instead of helps in bringing the
workingman and his employer to higher plane
and better appreciation of each other.
Initiation and contraction disturb values, and
thereby disturb industry, and sound currency
is demanded by labor in order that the laborer
may know the value Of his earnings at all times
and it is demanded by the producer that he may
calculate. with reasonable accuracy, the cost of
production.
Reform in the method of distributing supplies
would, if rightly directed bring great relief to
consumers; but cooperative distribution is only
a half measure because made effective for con-
sumers only. Production, whether of agricult-
ural or manufactured products. increases faster
than population 80 that one oe the great prob
lens in this matter is not how shall production
be made to keep pace with population. bat how
shall production be more equally distributed.
Faulty distribution, not overproduction, is the
truer term, but t. the community involved over
production more clearly expresses the difficulty.
Cooperation, to be complete must as a princi-
pie, surround production as well as consumption
Industrial copartnership is recommended. But
little has been done in this direction in the
United States, but wherever the principle has
been tried there have been three grand results
Labor has received more liberal share for its
skill, capital has been better remunerated, and
the moral tone of the whole community involved
raised
The organization of capital, the Commissioner
says, frightens the labor forces, and, in return,
the rapid organization of labor frighteEs capital
and yet these two kind Of organizations are sug-
gested as remedies for industrial depressions
There cannot be much to fear in the complete
organization of the employers on the ore hand
and employees on the other in fact, there is great
hope in such complete organization, for when or
ganization is complete on each side, each force
must treat with the other through Intelligent
representatives, and such treatment would re-
suit in doing away with passion with excite
ment, and all that comes Of an endeavor Of
great body of men to treat with the proprietors
individually
Froft-sharing and the organization Of all the
forces of industry would aid in securing moro
just division of the profits of production, and
one of the first advantages to be gained would
be reduction in the hours of labor, considered
by many the only solution for labor
troubles, and as the great panacea for
organization of labor and capital the hours of
labor should be adjusted on a basis more salts
factory than law. There is, the Commissioner
says, no contest between labor and capital, or
between the laborer and capitalist as such, but
there is contest between the latter as to the
profits of capital and wages Of labor, or,
in simple terms, as to the profits
each shall receive for his respective in
vestment. and this contest win continue so long
as the purely wage system lasts. 1t is absurd to
say that the interests of capital and labor are