Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-04-08
rHs IAnon PROBLEM.


By Professor Henry O. Adams OF the Depart
ment5 OF Political Economy In Michigan and
Cornell Universities. copyrighted, 1885.
II is as easy 10 be wise as it is TO be
brave with regard to a question well
settled, but il Is quite another thing to
Judge clearly and without hesitation re-
specting a struggle that touches our own
lives. In this great theatre of the world
while the play is yet going on, the side
lights are 80 strong by reason of their
nearness that it is found difficult to trace
the clear ray of truth which projects
itself into the future. II is now heard on
all sides that labor relations are passing
through revolution; and certainly the
strikes and lockouts that are continually
occurring, the space given to "labor
itemsn in the daily press, as we'll as the
sermons preached on social topics, war
rants such q conclusion. But If this be
in reality revolution, it is of the greatest
Importance that we know what il means.
What is the real point over which men
are quarreling? What will the historian
who writes of the nineteenth century a
hundred years hence say of the strikes of
1885 and 1886?
II has been my custom for some time
past TO collate the causes for which
strikes have been set on foot, as we'll as
the manner in which they have been set
tied; and, as the result of this, one fact
at least has been presented clearly to my
mind. The labor agitation in this
country is now beginning to take upon
itself a new meaning, because the labor
organizations have set before themselves
new purpose. The right of combina
| ton is no longer denied. There is no
danger at present that leaders of trades
unions will be prosecuted under 'con-
spiracy acts" unless they urge violence.
It is well recognized that the methods Of
modern industries compel the concertra-
ton of capital, and that men who are
without property in tools or shop must
unite or they will surely get the worst of
any bargain. Individualism for them is
social suicide. This was the state of
affairs before the present movement
towards the federation of the various
trades into great labor organization be-
gan. But it is not necessary for my
| present purpose to show how unions of
trades came to take the place of unions
| of men in trades; for it is the use that is
being made of organization, rather than
the nature of organization, which is of
importance.
Until within few years, the questions
| which the unions" endeavored to settle
were questions of wages, of hours Of
labor and of apprentice regulations. But
the sad experience of struggling after
immediate results, while permitting the
future to take care of itself, seems to have
suggested new idea. II is now seen
that there is something more in the labor
controversy than questions of wages,
hours and apprentice regulations. In the
settlement of actual difficulties the
thought naturally suggested itself that
some provision ought to be made for the
settlement of future difficulties without
the loss necessarily attendant upon pro
tracted struggles. This was the first stel
in new departure. II led necessarily II
demand that boards of arbitration b,
established to which all questions SHOULD
be referred for settlement. It is not TOT
much to say that at the present time tn,
workmen of the United States stand com
mitted to arbitration. The Knights o
Labor place it as an important plank il
their platform and more than one pape
devoted to the interests of the wage
Garner adopts it as an appropriate motto
But other claims have been added b
4 buC ubluhuh lOI hIDlbEublOu III lut COU
troversies which have recently take
place. The most important of these
what may be termed demand for tenur
of employment during good behavior
and it requires but slight analysis G
this to see that the end which the work
men have in view is to establish for then
selves right of implied partnership.
makes but little difference what strike
we consider for testing this conclusion
the diplomatic notes" that pass betwee
! the contending parties will show the rel
point at issue to be one of organization
For example, in the late strike on Il
, | Gould system of railroads, the Knigh
of Labor presented the following claims
] /. That there be no reduction In the ra
of wages of any employe on the road, vi
y less 1t be decided by an arbitration cor
), mittee, the railroad company to appoi
i three and the knights of Labor three
= 8. That no employee be discharged wit
y out u just cause, said employe having Il
Il | right to ask for an investigatlonil he thin
: he was unjustly discharged.
z 4. That all promotions, such as foreme
:, be made from the ranks.
N
6. If it become necessary to reduce g
penses the men should be consulted as
whether 1t shall be II reduction Of hours
a reduction of men.
= 7. That should any matter come up |
tween the employees and the company,
T. shall be decided by an arbitrating col
i, mittee of six, three from the company a
n. three from the Knights Of Labor; and
-. company and the Knights of Labor agr
u to abide by their decision.
Iy 1t is not clear from reading these claii
rs that the worklngmen are endeavoring
~ create for themselves, upon the basis
vi an agreement, certain rights not recC
~ nized in the present organization of indl
-. tries? The editor of the Globe De9R0cl
or of st. Louis sees this in part, but dc
ty not understand it for in speaking of
II matter he says There has not beei
z single point in the contest thus far
IL which Legitimate issue between CAPT
~ and labor could have been presented 1
't arbitration. The strike is based upol
W. demand totally unknown to the history
et arbitration and totally impossible as
vo thing to arbitrate."
10 OF course it would he little difficult
M present the question of the right to ar
~ trate before board of arbitration, bu
-. is rather hard to imply that this is no
~ Legitimate issue between capital a
I'd labor"
Ex-Governor Brown, on the other hal
he whose duty it was to reply to tn
IN demands, seems to grasp the true me-
~, ing of the situation. A recognition
"d such claims, he says, would "depriye
he receiver of the right to control and oper
nj the property entrusted to them1 un,
or well defined rules of law and comm
rd sense" l have nothing to say of
4p- pani1linr 6Tfiau t,npnaa1 1,rn,, n -,
''tt because he is receiver of bankrupt c.
mr. Germ but the point at issue here brouI
ga before us is one of general interest
ny reply of Ex-Governor Brown is what
or. manager of any industry would be lill
nd to say, if called upon to make par
me surrender of his control over what
.i.I terms his private property. On the OF
81, hand, what the Knights of Labor say
/ is that they desire to exercise some of
nd rights of proprietorship over the indus
Ing to which they give their skill and IL
my time. And it is certainly true that C
The cession to their demands would depi
nS, men now controlling industries of
~ ~ right to control and operate their pr
y erty ''under well defined rules of iay
the but we will not add land common sens
crs or that is the question ut issue.
1t was said above that the chief cl
of workmen, as shown in recent stril
was for the recognition of implied p
nership. We may now go one step far
ard and say, that the open recognition of
and relation between employersapde mplO
7 at would result in such change in
Iwn "well defined rules Of law ms TO or
ded for the employed new proprietary Ri
,xa- In this fact we come to the final in
ng. probation of the most recent phase
the strikes. The work,nen are struggling