The Labor enquirer., 1886-05-29

the product improve the condition OF
the whole, and what would be its effect
on international values? Are we to
have Chinese wall
They say scarcity will cause rise in
prices. Then the dynamiter who would
destroy property is a friend in disguise.
Would not big war produce scarcity,
or an earthquake, just as well. Or II
these measures are too cruel, then, if we
produce less and get more, would we not
be richer if we worked Blk hours, or four
hours rather. There is no end of circle
reasoning on this subject. Here is the
latest: 1Is
By employing the out-of-work the de-
mand for commodities will be increased
with increased demand increased prices
increased profits, and increased wages
the demand will arise on their being set
to work; and they will be set to work
Immediately the demand (their own de-
mand) is made, which will follow their
being set to work. Again, the argu-
ments are destructive Of themselves. 1t
Is an established economic fact that an
increase in the cost Of production is the
greatest stimulent to invention. This Is
exemplfed by every great disaster, such
as war. etc. Necessity is the mother of
invention. Where labor is cheap it is
sometimes preferable to machinery-es-
peelally when the machinery is high
priced. The machine needs the invest
ment Of large capital child labor or
woman labor are not fixed capital, the
first cost is nothing, and this Is impor-
tant to the "poor" capitalist, who can
thus pay a small sum for the proceeds,
after the labor has been performed.
Thus by raising the cost of production
more machinery would be produced, and
as as all the evils we complain of now
"are the result of producing -- in
excess and as we already produce
more than we can readily eat, wear or
dispose Of; which results first in a fall
ing of prices, then a lowering of wages,
succeeded by strikes" ETC., it seems to
me that the "dabblers in political econ
omy" have got out of their depth.
These are only few Of the economi-
cal difficulties, but to the practical
mar" they are mere bubbles. Then
comes the practical difficulty, how is it
to be got over? If the rise per hour
does not soon follow, then the old tim g
will be restored. Ifth-re is any likeli-
hood Of such a rise then the employer
will naturally resist it-or else it will be
the first time in the history of labor that
capital voluntarily conceded ANYTHING to
labor. If it need striking for, the EN-
plo2ers know that there a'e crowds of
unemployed who will be glad of the
chance to work ten or twelve hours a
dav; and as this is free country" any
attempt at force will be promptly met.
In fact, the eight hour movement is like
sleep as a cure for insomnia-the more
you need it the more difficult it is to
get it.
Of course there are many trades that
will be able to obtain tie eight hour day
with ten hours pay, but they are privi-
| legged Clesses. and as the exception they
only prove the rule that the benefits
can't be universal. The bricklavers, be,
ing we'll organized, having no fear OF
machinery, women or children, together
with the impo:sibility of importing for,
eign buildings and being a closed cor
poration against the chinese, are almost
certain to succeed. Other trades of the
same nature will have the same advan.
tage.
1t is not the best way to gain popular.
ity by combating a popular delusion |
do not believe in the policy that for the
sake of the cause or the party tits best
not to show up tn weak points of our DO.
! sition, but to peg away on the strong
points. Such policy savors Of political
demagOguerY, where any conduct is
justified that will catch votes. There.
fore have no fear that such mild criti,
Cism is against the best interests oil
labor"
Am then in favor of Chinese and
convict labor and opposed to trades
unions? Not at all. But | am opposed
to those who consider them as an end
itself rather than means to something
else. They have builded bett, than
they knew. But at best unionism is but
a local issue" What it cau do has
been done i'll England, and there they
have become respectable" and Conse-
quently powerless, They serve now the
purpose that Jay Gould said is their
only legitimate one, i. e., providing for
the sick, the old, the crippled and the
unfortunate-in a word, to pay their
own poor rate. They also serve as buf-
fers when foremen or bosses, become ty-
rants IN the shop; they are power Of
good in regulating customs and conduct.
But their influence on the rate of wages
is infnitesimaI-except in a few rare
cases, and tnen only so far as they are q
monopoly.
A small body of bankers, meeting once
a year in quiet parlor, can control the
volume Of currency and thus fix the
buying power of the dollar, so that it is