Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-09
THE WORKER AND HIS WAGES.
Manufacturers, WOrkmen and POIiti.
cal Economists on the Great Question
of the HOur.

The st. Louis Age of Steel publishes the re-
suits of an extended inquiry into various
phases of the labor question in the form Of
communications from representative manu-
facturers, workmen, and political economists
The topics considered relate to strikes and
iockouts, arbitration as q means of settling
disputes between labor and capital, indus
trial partnerships, or q mutual participation
of all concerned in the profits arising from
production, and the practicability of CO.
operative production In the United States.
Among the contributors are Howard Crosby,
Edward Everett Hale, DIR. Rylauce, David
H. Mason, Bishop Warren. H. D. Lloyd, r.
Heller Newton, DR.. Charles R. Ballar, Pro-
fessors Hadley, Of Yale; Seligman, Of Co
New York; James. of the Wharton school of
finance; Clare, of Smith college. and Water
house, of washington and the state labor COM
Pennsylvania. The side of the workingman is
represented by Robert Bennett, master work
man OF the Illinois knights of Labor: the officers
of the Illinois Miners protective association;
John Jarrett, Fred Woodrow, the Samaritan of
Labor; f. Stewart, j. H. BURT, j. Ehrmann,
presidents of the junction, Western. Spaulding,
and Green Castle Nail companies; Charles
Ri Rldgey, N l., o. = Nelson, Joseph Corns, a; H.
Todd and John A. Gibney.
A summary of the opinions expressed shows
that strikes and lockouts are an inevitable re-
suit OF the wage system and of the present
form OF labor organizations. Arbitration is
commended, and in most cases the enactment
sne re
is the basis of the orthodox political economy
is already a thing of the past in the sphere of
binations on both Sides Professor James sug-
gests that arbitration has the great advantage
efficient and powerful control OF an enereetic
public opinion. 1t recognizes that the interests
at stake are not merely those of the laborer and
hut ~
large. Edward Trow, secretary of the board OF
arbitration for the manufactured iron trade OF
England, says: THE benefit and success of the
system of arbitration for settling. disputes over
the system of strikes and lockOuts fully estab.
fishes its utility and adaptability, and no
parallel can be found in the history of trade
where difficulties have been settled so advan-
taseously.' Many cases are cited where
manufacturers have adopted arrangements
plus profits among employees. Charles A.
Pillsbury & Co., Of Minneapolis, says: owe
have no reason to regret the amount Of money
which we have thus distributed among our
workmen, as 1t has given US a very loyal and
CONSCIENTIOUS lot Of men, and we certainiy do
S wiz our ap'as
ployes or disafectiOn among Them -.
K. Heber Newton says; III society is to adj
more just division of profits must be found
Nay, then, II we are to avoid bloody revolu.
ton and anarchy, such q reform must accom-
man suggests that If half the intellect that has
been employed TO concentrate 81 per cent of
the wealth OF our cities into the hands Of 2 ner
cent OF their population, and to reduce wages to
the European basis, has been exercised In dis
covering an equitable basis for the distribution
OF the profits of industrial enterprises, it would
long ago have been discovered. John Jarrett
advocates profit sharing, II based on indus
trial , partnerships. He would have the work
pany by which they are employed. He also
regards intemperance as the greatest curse of
On the question Of cooperation there "a !.
great VAR variety , OF opinion. ! G: sarsneld, Of
Is at hand for the working classes, whose heri.
tage is poverty and toll. AS a rule the manu-.
ton as practicable in this country. Many ex-
perinents have been made, with Indifferent
success. Their failure is ascribed to want
education. and the obstacles thrown in its
way by large corporations. The labor
commissioners Sonnds ne advocate cooperation ;, as
II VIII increase the earnings of capital by
obyiating long and expensive strikes, and
and more careful Of the interests Of their
Coal and Iron company, says: sThe U soiu.
capital and labor must be evolved out of The
chaos which now exists, and much time and
money money Will De spent before the solution is
Sl%ssiY - seosns e saR planes snd
hence will survive, and thus eventus aIv
WIZ the problem be worked ont. The CO
odes plan, pure and simple, can never
on q very small scale, but the co.onetatiwe
principle, IN some form, must be the basis
Upon which Industrial enterprises win finally
few hands, coupled with discomfort among
the masses, are Incompatible with repnbIicass
an ss IL 81 sSs middle
Tue one nand and socialism on the other