Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-20
THE LABOR
Its Relation to Business Interests and
POlitics-SuggestiOns as to
Its Solution.
TBY SAMPLE Il, ORR

The part which labor organizations have
played in tine recent elections, both east
and west; the magnitude of the existing
strike of the packers in Chicago, and the
recent proposition of the Anaconda Com
pany to resume operations at 6, reduced
wage rate, all combine to give prominence
to the labor question and indicate that it
is pressing American craftsmanship for So
luton. To argue that the striking labor
ers are q band of ~mal.contents, with social
istic tendencies, is to evade the question
and to deny to the wage-workers the right
to organize for mutual protection. It is
undoubtedly true that socialism and an
archism stand ever ready to espouse the
cause OF labor and participate in impend-
ing crisis. but it is equally true that the
great monopolies Of the land are ever on
the alert watching for an opportunity to
curtail expenses by reducing the wages of
the laborer. This is necessarily the case, for
if the allurement of augmented profits were
not sufficient to excite the cupidity of en-
ployers, the ferceneas of the business COM
petition would frequently drive them to
the same expedient. The result of all
LAO ID a. VChUSuVy w AOuuOO oiO "o6C-"OAh
er to q state OF absolute dependence upon
the will of his employer, but little, if in any
degree, removed from that of positive
slavery. On the other hand, to concede to
labor organizations the right to dictate to
employers the terms upon which they may
contract for the services of their agents
and employees is TO destroy the rights OF
property, subvert the principles upon
which government is founded and practi-
cally reduce society to a state Of m
ism. Neither OF these extremes is desir-
able.
Tho legitimate aim OF true craftsmanship
is natural greatness; but it is the duty of
government to seek the attainment of this
end not by the encouragement of gigantic
business enterprises, but by fostering indi-
vidual greatness through the multiplicity Of
happy homes and Independent, thoughtful
citizens. The latter is the course dictated
by reason-by every human consideration
and is in perfect accord with the theory
OF free government and republican institu- |
tions whilst the former is not.
Apopular fallacy upon the subject, due
to q lack of intelligent consideration, is that
there exists an interminable war between
capital ana labor Rnt capital being simp.
ly the a~ccumulations of past labor it is evil
dent that in many respects their interests
are identical. For instance it is to the in |
terest OF both that financial prosperity
should prevail and that taxes should be |
reduced to q minimum. The capital here |
referred to is that invested in legitimate
business enterprises as that is the kind
with which this subject is principally con-
cerned. Moreover, every laborer who saves
up his earnings or who invests his surplus
earnings in such manner as to assist in the
support OF himself or family, becomes to
that extent q capitalist. It is only when
capital accommodating in the hands of one
individual, corporation or association OF
individuals is SO employed as to produce
. monopoly or seeks in it's strength to
override the rights of the less fortunate
wage.laborer that a conflict OF interests &C.
ours.
The growing tendency Of capital, which is
tho worlds heritage of the accumulated la
bors OF past ages, to combine its forces and
concentrate it's energies for the accomplish
ment OF it's purposes together with the
manifest disregard for the rights of others
have long been noted with feelings OF alarm,
and have given rise to various conjectures
as to where this tendency would end, as
well as q variety Of suggestions as to the
remedy to be applied. But this tendency
cannot be checked. It is one OF the newt
able results OF our civilization. That
thing which we call civilization is a gradual
development and proceeds according to the
infexible laws OF evolution. Consequently
the tendency toward Capitalization and
monopoly is destined to become Saore
marked at each step OF the worlds pro-
gress.
The labor-saving inventions of the pres
emit age have contributed largely to this
result. At first glance it would seem that
every labor-saving device ought to enable
the worlds producing classes to supply
tho wants of the human family with less
labor and thus give more time for ~intellec- [
tual pursuits and recreation, but the prac-
teal result has ever been to add somewhat
to the comforts OF life among all classes. to
add more to the worlds capital and to c
the ~wage-worker's condition of de- t
pendence upon the will of lis employer t
much more absolute. If statistics indicate Z
that at times there has been in the United /
States a tendency toward the disintegra- v
ton OF large landed properties, the circum- t
stance does not lead to the inference that il
monopoly 10 losing its bold upon the people a