Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-08

what the knights OF Labor say is. that
they desire to exercise some Of the rights
Of proprletorshlp over the industry TO
which they give their skill and time. And
10 Is certainly true that concession to their
demands would deprive men now con-
trolling Industries Of the right to control
aud operate their property nunder we'll
defined rules Of law;" but we viii not add
"and common sense,n for that is the
question az issue.
a NEW KIND or PROPERTY.
1t was said above that the chief claim
OF wOrkmen, AZ shown in recent strikes,
was for the recognition Of implied part.
nership. We may now 60 one step far
tber and say that the open recognition Of
this relation between employers and en-
ployed would result IN such a change in
the "well-de1ued rules Of law az to Gre
ate for the employed q new proprietary
right In this fact we come to The nnal
Interpretation OF the most recent phase OF
strikes. Theworkmen are struggling for
the creation OF new property not now
recognized by law Whether OF not this
Is IN legitimate Issue between capltaland
labor depends upon one's views of what
constitutes q well-organized Industrial so
ciety.
WoRiMEN 81 TnE RIGHT END OF THE
PBoBLEAI
a personal opinion in matter OF this
sort Is not of much importance, but |
may perhaps be permitted TO say that 1t
seems TO me that the workmen have at
last gotten hold of the right end OF the
problem 1t has for long time been
felt that the principle underlying the
theory OF cooperation is the one which
must eventually solve the labor difficulty.
This principle is, that proprlctorship
shouldbe widely extended in order that
the benefits Of property may be widely
diffused. This is pretty theory,
but the practical question is, how
can a man with Il wife and six
children save enough out OF
50 q day to buy stock in the Gould system
Of railroads? There are at present lnsur-
modntable obstacles in the way of an ex-
tended application of the principle OF co.
operation. But shall the purpose which
undetlies the thought be abandoned?
May not the benefits OF proprietOrship
be diffused while the nominalorlegal resi-
dence Of property remains where it now
Isl II men are given tenure of employ
ment and cannot be discharged except
for cause that satisfies commission Of
0AbANARb'A0t blAN1 i4lul Bt EuAu " Db III iiiG
enjoyment of an Industrial homes II
men are promoted from the
ranks, Chat is, according to civil
service rules) they may be said to have
vested interest in the industry:
If employees are consulted whether hours
of work or the Numbers employed shall
be reduced, they have secured a right to
live in hard times from the fund OF
capital created by them in flush times;
and il ell these claims-as we'll as others
naturally implied by them-sh should be so
well established that infringement on
either side may be taken into the courts,
tine practical meaning of proprietorship
in productive agencies VIII be radically
changed from that which either custom
or law now recognizes IL Will be yir-
tually new law of productive property.
IL VIII result in the establishment of an
industrial federation.
HARMONY WITH ANGLo-sAxoN LIBERTY.
do not know that the Knights Of La.
Dor clearly perceive the full pertinence of
their own claims. They are dealing with
practical measures, and it may be that, in
the heat OF the controversy, they fail TO
recognize the remote consequences of
their own acts. Great social movements
are seldom thought out by those who are
prominent actors But Of one thing we
may rest assured, the sympathy Of Amerl-
can workmen is neither with Socialism
nor Anarchy. A few weeks ago member
of the knights of Labor in Chicago went
into meeting OF the so-called Socialists
and denounced their doctrines as opposed
to the best interests OF working
men, An Anarchist speaking re-
Gently in town in Massachusetts,,
classed labor organizations along
with churches and theinstitution of the
family, as thing chat stood in the way
of personal liberty. II the views / have
endcavored to express are correct, and
the Interpretation suggested of labor
agitations be the true one, 1t is certainly
the part Of wisdom to recognize the
claims of Knights of Labor in the spirit
OF fairness and assist them in working
out their ideas. Their purpose stands
opposed to the tyranny OF German Social !
lists on the one hand, aud TO the vet
greater tyranny OF Spencelian anarchy ON
the other; but it is in full harmony win
the further development Of Anglo-Sayon
liberty. Its realization will arrest the
dlsintegratlng tendencies of the presenr
and lead, II We are wise in its direction
TO the re-establisnment of society az
mutual dependencies. The solution of
the labor problem lies in the further de. |
Veiopment OF property rights.