The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-24

On tho Labor T'OublSs-HO says tho Work
man AIusL IlnYe u Fair snAre.


The Philadelphia Pres prints long in
tervlew with Hon. Stephen Il. EIkins on
the labor problem and its solution, Of
which the following arc extracts:
The outcome will BE- many and radical
social changes, now looked upon rs i'm.
practicable, ii not impossible. Onv Of
them will be the adoption Of an industrial
systUm in which the wage feature, ~ We
now understand 1t, will largely disappear
Forces are at work to bring about TINS re-
suit. 1t may take q long tlme. Thee
may be serious troubles. during the Trans
iuon period. But it seems TO lne 1t must
come. substantial relief from LABOR
troubles aud contentious between EN-.
ployer and employOdshhould not b. OK.
peCted under the present industrial sys,
TEN. They are incidental tO 1t IN the
present Industrial system; they are inc :
dental TO IL in the present condition Of
society, and Will 20 on until the system |
changed. Thissystem IL Daged ON piiui
pie that not only permits, but fosters, con-
slant war between employer and employed.
Under It's operations the employer,
through competition and other causes
tries to get the most labor he can for the
least money, while tho employed tries
equally hard to get the most
money for the least labor, and, mean.
time, hiss no interest in the work in
hand or It's ownership when completed
The tune has come when this system must
be replacsd by one that brlDgs peace be-.
tween employer and employed-that
makes their interest a mutual one, and the
game. Labor and capital always act to-
gether and in harmony III the Creation'of
wealth or tho accomplishment OF given
purpose requiring the joint action OF both
What is required IL simply 10 unite in the
same harmony the interests oil the EN-
ployGr who controls capital and tho en-
plOyed who controlslabor, as the things
themselves are united. This, 1t seems to
me, would bring toan end the antagonism
between employer and employed, and
consequently ali labor troubles and dis.
turbanCes. Combinations OF Wage.re.
ceivers and employers formed 10 resist
each other In the hope Of protecting their
respective interests will only result In in
creased irritation under the present indus.
trial system. Both sides should rather
direct their energies and efforts towards
getting into closer relations and finding a
system under which their interests, instead
VI being diverse and different, may BIZ
made the same and mutual"
us that praCtiCable2 Can 1t be accom-.
plishedW
with our present views and ideas as TO
the conduct Of business 1t may, and
doubtless does, appear to many not only
impraClicable, but even=impossible, but
in Europe and the United States this idea
or theory Is already finding supporters
and gaining ground. The cases of the
New England Granite Works and the
firm Of Asa Cushnan & Co., Of Auburn,
Me-, shoe manufacturers, are recent ex.
Gmples among many others that might bs
cited Of dividing profits between the EN-.
plOyer and employed. These cases are
Interesting because In both the owners,
on their own motion, without any dis.
tuib inCe or strike on the part OF their
employees, adopted this plan. There are
always objections 10 changes that affect
society as 4 whole. Generally all adj.
vauCes In the interest OF the whole people
ara opposed, and too often In the past
only brought about through blood, |
know that 1t Is difficult for US
to conceive now just how the In.
terests OF q great railway corporation
and ils employees can bs united
and made the same, and there 10 u be a
division oil profits between them. It will
be claimed as impossible, and the idea
visionary. Bat II the principle Is onCs
adopted way will be found. In the
South the negro, fresh from slavery, with.
out any lesson iii political economy, BOon
discovered that the wage system brought
him no return, and he at once demanded
an interest In the crops his labor had pro.
duCed. The land owner, the capitalist, at
first objected, thought the negro unreason.
able, but soon saw hiH way clear 10 grant
the demand aud take his former bonds.
man into partnership. A large part oil the
agriculture Of the South 10 now carried on
uUdef the arrangement OF dividing tue
profit. as the interest oil both parties are
the same there 10 no danger Of strikes Or
fear OIL discomfort, because there 10 no
GROUND for either, In many Of the States
Of the northwest this system 10 beiug
adopted Ia agricultural pursuits"
what will tue attitude OiCapilaliats ?"
"lhOhghtiul capitalists are beginning 10
feel that theit hnNinnba, In h, Ht,cct Esitil