St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-02

Oh capltal IN The ndnuS OF anew, ana uIlllZ0Q
entirely for the advancement Of trade and
commerce. The tendency of the present sys-
tenn is towards worse condition of affairs
than human slavery ever entailed on the hui
man family. Modern invention in all it's
bearings is dangerously stirring up the
deeper and baSer passions in man. They
seek to grow rich in day, speculation is
rife, and avarice stimulated Oh one hand,
and jealousy, envies, cOvetousness and dis
| content are engendered on the other hand.
The chief characteristic of the present state
is a crushing, killing competition, by which
every man is set against his neighbor, I'M
der which, in the general scramble for the
| supremacy, point has been reached that
threatens universal ruin.
NO GREATER ERROR
was ever made by intelligent men, than
the adoption of the principle of free COM
petition, the survival of the tittest." Who
would presume to say that the virtue in
freedom lies in the fact that person to
enjoy freedom must be absolutely free. to do
as he hasa mind to without any regard for
| right OF wrong. Such presumption is
absurd, and yet the political economists of
certain school, to-day, apply such a mean
ing to the word Free when coupled with
competition or trade. They must learn
things" This competition has a twin
brother. 1t is the general craving for
cheapnesS and seeking for bargains that we
see and find everywhere. The adoption OF
this policy makes every workingman his
own worst enemy and the worst kind
of an OppresSor. By it the poor sewing
girl has been reduced to starvation wages,
and every class of labor brought down to the
lowest level. The agitation of the eight
hour work day is aimed directly at the
root of these evils and it is believed that
ii adopted it will remove the cause of their
existence. The first thing sought is the
means that will bring all the now idle and
partially employed into constant employ
ment, and thus not only make them active
producers. but consumers also. AS our
means of production by the aid of ma
chinery with labor working from ten to
fifteen hours day is larger than our means
! of consumption, and as the employment Of
mechanical i'll the place of human labor is
and will steadily increase our means of pro-
ductlon without providing
ADEQUATE MEANS
OF consumption. it is very plain to under
stand that the first remedy that presents it
self is a reducing of the hours of labor. BY
reducing the hours of labor as we advance
IN science and the application of machinery,
labor will then be receiving its share in the
blessings that should flow from the invent
i've genius OF man. Under these conditions
there would be, if any, but little idle labor;
neither would the discomfort that is now
SO great, exist to any great degree, as with
the reduced hours labor would be more
pleasant and less exhaustive, and more time
would be had for mental training and social
enjoyment. Constantly employed labor,
even at low wages, is better than idle labor.
But there is no necessity for either Of these
in this country. With our resources labor
can be fully employed and paid good
| wages. There should be no reduction
in wages with the hours of labor reduced.
By keeping up the wages, we keep up
the circulating capital, or medium. Of
course prices will be higher in every direc-
ton; but not in proportion to amount paid
in advanced wages. With the great strides
the education OF the masses would make,
under the reduced hours of labor, but a
very short time would elapse before the
rates of wages paid, or cost Of production
of all productions would, under the laws OF
just and equitable competition, regulate the
prices in the market. Speculation and cor
nering of food products, watering of stock by
large corporations, and
RECKLESS CREATION OF DEBTS.
would cease, and consequently less fuctu
atiOnS in price ensue. 1t Is the greatest mis-
take conceivable to argue that to reduce the
hours of labor would injure the employers
generally. 1t would practically, in the end,
be great and lasting benefit to them. EN-
! ployers of labor are producers. The steady
work given to labor; the employment of our
now idle labor, whose wants would have to
be supplied would SO increase production
as to materially increase their profits. But.
as my article must be short, it is well to
ask, can we adopt the eight-hour working
day in this country under existing cendi-
tons? l reply, no! Still, however, the diff
iculties in the way can be easily removed
if we have the will to do So In
the first place we must have leveling up
of the conditions of the working people
Of our country. There must be a system
adopted of making wages more uniform
than they now are. also a system to have
wages paid according to the value of the
products, the same wages to be paid to
women as is paid to men on the basis of
price of product. Second. the movement
must be national; sectional enforcement
would be suicidal, for the employers of
labor in one state cannot compete with
those of other states if longer hours of
labor are allowed; and again, if competi-
ton between the states under unequal
conditions would be dangerous, then
FOREIGN COMPETITION
in our markets. if permitted, would be as
dangerous. and more SO. The object being
to elevate labor.in this country. it is well to
remember that to do so we must place re-
.strictions against foreign elements Interior
ing with us. These restrictions. of course,
would be unnecessary if foreign labor is
!, paid the same wages as ours. Last year we
imported. of manufactured goods, over
500, 600, 900 worth. which amount repre-
sents lost labor to our working people. 1t
is hardly to be expected that uniform
work day of eight hours could be adopted,
5as each trade has its peculiar features. The
| hours OF labor should be adapted to the re-
| quirements of the trade, but in no case
should extend beyond twelve hours The
eight-hour work day should
be put. in operation in all
the government departments at as early
a date as possible There is nothing to
hinder it being done at once, there being no
question OF competition to provide against,
! nor is there any necessity as to an arrange
ment of prices as it does not include the
/ question Of profit TO the employer, in tine
sense that profit and loss is applied to trade
! and commerce. 1t is wrong to argue that
4 one man can under reduced hours of labor
turn out as much WORK then in eight hours
as he can now in ten or twelve nor is it
necessary that lie should unless it be made
| possible that greater production is needed
| by. the aid of machinery, Of course to meet
! the greater and enlarged wants of the people.
JOHN j. JARRETT.
CONGRESSMAN KELLEY