The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-02
LABOR's VIEW OF IT.

LABOR'S VIEW OF IT.
The Evils of Competition and Cheapness in
Grinding Down the Wages of WOrkmen.
by John j. Jarrett exPresident of the Amagamated
Association of Iron aud steel; workers and secre
tary of the American Timed plate Association:
The agitation for reduced hours of labor and
! higher wages, now going on in the industrial
world, is in the right direction and in harmony
with the social and moral progress and advance
ment Of man, as laid down by the golden rule
''Do unto others as you would have others DO
unto YOU The object sought is the insuring to
the workingman-to the producers OF wealth
their share of the increased production caused
by the invention aud perfection of machinery
and the discovery of new forms or poperties and
applications Of matter. Up to the present time
the actual producers have received but veryin-
adequate portion their share of the Dement'S ac-
cruing from the benefits of machinery and spe-
cial tools, etc. Principally these benefits have
been absorbed in the enlargement and centrali-
cation of capital in the hands of few. and util
izeG entirely for the advancement of trade and
commerce. The tendency of the present system
is towards worse condition of affairs than hu-
man slavery ever entailed on the human family
Modern invention in all its bearings is danger
ousy stirring up the deeper and baser
passions in man. They seek to grow rich In a
| day. Speculation is rife and avarice stimulated
| on one hand, and jealousy envies, Consciousness
| and discomfort engendered on the other
| hand. The chief characteristic of the present
state is a crushing, killing competition, by which
every man is set against his neighbor, under
which, in the general scramble for the suprem-
| acy point has been reached that threatens uni
versal ruin. No greater error was ever made by
intelligent men than the adoption of the princi-
pie of free competition" and the survival of
the ittest" Who would presume to say that
the virtue in freedom lies in the fact that per-
son to enjoy freedom must be absolutely free to
do as he has a mind to, without any regard for
| right or wrong. Such presumption Is absurd.
and yet the political economists OF certain school
| to-day apply such meaning to the word free,
| when coupled with competition or trade. They
| must learn that the true principle is "modera-
| ton in all things.
This competition has twin brother. 1t is the
| general craving FOR cheapness and seeking for
| bargains that we see and find everywhere The
adoption of this policy makes every working
man his own worst enemy and the worst kind OF
an oppressor. By it the poor sewing girl has
| been reduced to starvation wages, and every
class of labor brought down to the lowest level.
The agitation of the eighthour work-day is
aimed directly at the root of these evils and 1T is
believed that. if adopted, will remove the cause
| of their existence. The first thing sought is
the means that will bring, all the
now idle and partially employed into
| constant employment. and thus not only make
| them active producers, but consumers also.
| AS our means of production by the aid of ma
| chinery with labor working from ten TO fifteen
hours day, is larger than our means of con-
| sumption. and as the employment of mechanical
in the place of human labor is. and will steadily
! increase our means of production without
| providing adequate means of consump-
| tIon it is very plain to understand that
the first remedy that presents itself is reducing
| of the hours of labor. By reducing the hours of
labor we advance in science and the applca-
ton of machinery, labor will then be receiving
| it's share in the blessings that should flow from
| the inventive genius of man. Under these con
ditions there would be, if any. but little idle la
| Dor, neither would the discomfort that is now
| great exist to any great degree, as with the re-
| duced hours labor would be more pleasant and
less exhaustive, and more time would be had for
mental training and social enjoyment. Con-
! stantly employed labor, even at low wages, is
better than idle labor But there is no necessity
for either of these in this country. With our re-
sources labor can be fully employed and paid
| good wages There should be no reduction in
| wages with the hours of labor reduced. By
| keeping up the wages, we keep up the circulat-
| ing capital or medium. OF course prices will
| be higher in every direction, but not in proper
| ton to amount paid in advanced wages With
| the great strides the education of the masses
would make, under the reduced hours of labor.
| but very short time would elapse before the
| rates Of wages paid or cost of production of all
| productions, would, under the the laws of just
| the market speculation and cornering of food
products watering of stocks by large corpora
TONS and reckless creation Of debts would cease,
| and consequently less fluctuations in price ensue.
/ 1t is the greatest mistake conceivable to argue
| that to reduce the hours Of labor would iniure
| the employer generally. 1t would practically, in
| the end be great and lasting benefit to them.
| Employers of labor are producers The steady
work given TO labor, the employment of our now
! idle labor, whose wants would have to be sup
Piled would SO increase production as to materi
| ally increase their profits.
But, as my article must be short it is we'll to ask
| Can We adopt the eight-hour working day in this
| country under existing conditions7 reply: No!
STILL however, the difficulties in the way can be
| easily removed, if we have the will to do So In
| the first place must have dwelling up of the
! conditions of the working people of the country.
| There must be system adopted of making wages
| more uniform than they now are, also system
TO have wages paid according to the value of the
products the same wages to be paid to women
is paid to men, the basis of price of product.
| 2. The movement must be national A sec
/ tional enforcement would be suicidal for the
employers of labor IN one State cannot compete
| with those of other States, il longer hours of
| labor are allowed. And again. if Competition be-
| tween the States under uneo ual conditions would
| be dangerous, then foreign competition in our
| markets, if permitted, would be as dangerous,
| and more SO. The object being to elevate labor
in this county. it Is we'll to remember that to do
| SO We must place restrictions against foreign ele
| ments interfering with us. These restrictions,
of course, would be unnecessary if foreign labor
| is paid the same wages as ours, and also work
| the same number of hours
Last year we imported, -of manufactured goods
| over s400, DOC, 900 worth. which amount repre-
| sents lost labor to our working people
1t is hardly to be expected that q uniform
work-dav Of eight hours could be- adopted. As