The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-12
THREE CLASSES OF Ae1rAroRs.

The Destroying Nihilists, the Theorists, and
the knights of Labor.
G. p, in Cincinnati Enquirer.
And what is this tremendous new factor in
the social problem? Let us try to find out
Modern socialism has three phases. The first
for lack of a better sterm, may be called nihil-
istic. 1t seeks to dismantle and Gismember.
Its weapons are the torch. the pistol and dyna
mite For this class the world has no use The
more rampant they get the better for society
for the moment they get rampant they are in
evitably ground into powder. The second class
are the theoriZers who want to reconstruct the
whole order of society upon the communistic
plan. This will work no better than the first
The third class are of those who believe that the
wage-laborer should have larger share of the
profits resulting from his work, and better OPP
portunity of advancing the condition. If not OF
himself, at least of his children. 1t is this last
view which the Knights of Labor have, 20 far,
and with singular intelligence, sought to make
potential through their wonderful organization.
They conflict with other "unions"-they
pervade all, and seek to direct all to the common
end. They are firm, but not exasperating. They
are determined but cool and polite. They offer
arbitration before they resort TO their strongest
measures. They move with a common inn
pulse Their ideas, as the organization at pres
ent stands, may be best illustrated by sum
mary OF an interview granted me Dy one or Cne
leading men upon their national board--a man
of remarkable intelligence: THE treatment of
wage-labor," said he, s'has hitherto been regu-
lated by competition, and by the law of supply
and demand; ard the capitalists tell that that
is the only regulator. But what is the result of
such regulation? 1t inevitably results in the
perpetuation of Ricardo's iron Jaw of wages
that price which is necessary to enable the
laborers one with another to subsist. and to per
petuate their race without increase or dminu-
tion.' Now such law that was probably in
evitable in the early stage of society,
when the survival of the fttest' was
the only rule. But society has passed that
point 1t has also passed, or is fast passing. a
point which was the only possible relief to that
iron law'-the point where the wage-laborer, by
extra self-sacrifce, or extra industry could hope
to become something better. The little manu-
facturer is fast disappearing from the face of
the earth in the consolidation of capital and in
dustries. You will laugh when use the gag
phrase that the poor are getting poorer and the
rich richer but that is the fact Since 1850 the
net annual product of manufacturing in this
country has increased from $430, 000, 600 to over
So, 000. 900, 000-more than 500 per cent.-while
the average annual wages of labor have increased
in the same time from $240 to $340-only 40 per
cent. This disparity in increase we seek to cor
rect. A capable, industrious. sober, economical
save 5000 year. If he cannot, it is all wrong.
That wrong we propose to right We want
better share better chance, better hope for
the future of our children"
Such are the views expressed by these men,
and such is the struggle which they are now
forcing. Will they succeeds Heaven only
knows.