The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-05-07

either return to their work.
or allow others to fill their places with
out molestation.
We have little faith in laws compell-
ing arbitration, 1T must be volun-
tary act. Concessions must be made
to the right; both parties must feel
satisfied in order to work in harmony
The laborer should be paid just what
he earns, be it little or much, and paid
cheerfullv, and should strive to elevate
himself from wage-worker to parti-
cipant in the business. There are sew
eral large establishments in the coun-
try in which the operatives are parti-
cipants in the profits. Those who
have been certain length of time In
the employment of the companies
participate in proportion to the amount
of their earnings for the year, after
allowing prescribed dividend for the
capital invested and a reasonable COM
pensatiOn for the management. In
justice, this should be confined to
faithful and reliable workmen, and not
to be shared with the "tramping jour-"
who happens to be in when the dlvi
dend is made. Access is allowed to
the books, to see that they are fairly
dealt by, and the consequence is, con-
tented workmen.
But while WOrkmen are allowed
share in the profits, who is to sustain
the losses? All kinds of business has
its ups and downs, and it canLot be ex-
pected that the employer can divide
the profits and sustain all the losses
alone. There is a way to provide
against such contingencies, and that is,
for every one who participates to de.
posit a small percentage of his earn
ings to form fund to meet such emer-
gencies, which should be continued
from year to year, and in case of no
occasion for appropriation for that
purpose, to be eventually refunded pro
rata 10 those who have contributed.
Although the capitalist is so often
denounced as being everything that is
dishonest and inhuman, the object of
envy and hatred, few they are, who, if
kindly solicited, would be so coWardly as
to refuse to brave public opinion and
generously change places with him;
and, having changed places with him.
what guarantee that the new incum-
bent would be more liberal and philan-
thropic than his predecessor? Avar-
ice and covetousness, though nearly
synonymous terms, admit a shade of
difference, but are not confined to any
particular class. Avarice would keep
what it has and covetousness would
grasp for more. It is human nature,
and is exemplified in almost every
business transaction, and, to CERTAIN
degree, is proper. Neither party mono.
polizes all the honor or honesty. The
poor man, as we'll as the rich, will buy
as cheaply as he can, and sell as dearly
as he can, thereby grasping what he can
get, and neither party should condemn
the traits in the others which they
themselves practice. 1t is the ex-
tremes which are practiced, to the in
justice of the opposite party, which
are reprehensible. The capitalist ap.
plies his energies for gain, and so does
the operative.
The capitalist who uses his capital
merely as means for speculation
benefiting himself only, is not the use
full citizen that he is who invests in an
enterprise which not only remunerates
himself, but benefits the public at the
same time. He is vampire preying
upon the community. He may engage
in an enterprise furnishing employ
ment and bread to hundreds, or engage
in the liquor traffic, which is curse
to community.
Intemperance has been one of the
greatest enemies which the laboring
man has had to contend with, and, al.
so. one fruitful source of disturbance.
Well aware of this, as soon as the mill
tia were ordered to East st. Louis in
| the late riot, the authorities at once
ordered all the saloons to be closed.
But the struggle of the poor man to
obtain his liquor and tobacco is not to
be compared to the struggle of his
family for bread. His arithmetic does
not aggregate the nickels and dimes
which are daily dropping into the sa-
loon-keeper's till, and the value Of a
house and lot is soon worse than
wasted. 1t is the same "old, old
story" so often repeated and harped
upon. that every one knows it by heart
but it is too true. No better remedy
can be devised than to not only resist
temptation, but to remove temptation
Although there is much in the system
of the Knights of Labor which is open
to criticism, this thing is worthy of all
credit, it true, that they are sound on
the liquor question, and that all liquor
dealers and manufacturers are strenu
ously excluded from their order, and
Incorporate men not invited. This is
a move in the right direction, and it is
to be hoped that their principles are
also to elevate their members. both So
cially and morally, as we'll as to better
their financial condition.
LabOring men should know their
rights, and, knowing, should maintain
them, without abusing them or tramp
ling on the rights of others. Ignorance
once dispelled cannet be re-established
A person may be kept in ignorance
but cannot be made ignorant, for ignor.
ance is a negative principle-the alb.
sence of knowledge, as cold is the alb
sence of heat.
Voluntary idleGess- alias Incidence
is another enemy which a large class
have to contend with. But says the
socialist, +" the world owes me living,
and | am determined TO have it," In
deed how came the world so deeply
indebted to him? Debts are incurred
for value received, and what value or
benefit has the world received from
him? We deny that the world owes
him living unless he earns it, if able.
If able, and does not, he is a parasite,
and lives by sufferanee; if not able. be
lives by charity. He is indebted to the
earth for the dust-we might, with
propriety, say, dirt-os which he is
made, and repays it only when he pays
the "debt of nature" d.
A great hue and cry has been raised
against few thousands of Industrious
and inoffensive Chinese who are scat
tered throughout our country, while
hundreds of thousands of Poles and