The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-10

what less a saving OF labor than appears
on the surface A good part Of the former
dozen honest harvest hands are now em-
plOyed In mining coal and iron, In pre-
pAIiug timber, in building factories, In
manufacturing, transporting, selling and
delivering the machines, There has been
q saving OF labor Notwithstanding, but
this released labor ia making wheat farms
in Minnesota, and entering upon the plains
OF the Saskatchewan, where, It Ia said. the
Wheat.lands are nearly unlimited. Mills,
railroads and ships are wanted to prepare
and transport the crop, and these add 70
the demand for labor. Nor has all this
progress OF lsbor.sayinR harvest machines
CheapenGd labor. When the hand'Sickle
was used the pay Tor a days labor was
tilty cents or one-half bushel Of wheat
This cradle just doubled the pay. The
reaper made 1t threshold, and the binder
has not lfssened II, Farm machinery has
thus added to the demands Tor labor and
increased the pay Of the laborer more
than 100 percent.
This illustration holds good In other de-
psYtments OF discoveries and inventions.
New aVenues and new enterprises stimu'
late ambition and create new demands
ior labor. This will undoubtedly con-
tinue till the world is finished up much
more nearly than II Ia at present.
Bat am in favor Of an eight'hour labor
day whenever and wherever the lRbOref
can afford it-nOt for the main reason
giyen by Mr., SGhilling-"beCaua there Is
not work for all" but for the reason that
'the leisure will allow the workers to par
licipate in the eniOyments OF art, science
and literature" There is no doubt that
the lew absorb much which ought to be
shared by the many, and wise legislation
is demanded on many points, But legls.
lation will not reach all the eVllsi most Of
these have other cures, "Co'oper-
alton invites q trial. II the employ
err pays too little wages let labor.
ers combine and employ themselves, and
thus get all the profits, It Is asked, Where
Ia the money for THU? Most diligeRt labor
ers have something, The strong drink
and tobacco expenses, which do very little
good, would, il applied 10 this purpose,
soon make the day laboTera owners Of
mach OF the machinery Of which Mr.,
sGhilling complains about It's rivalry.
Tmmps pass my door east and west Most
] OF them are not trsmps because there is no
demand for work, but they tramp to get
rid Of work. II they stop in nne place
they know they will he obliged to work
for their bread aud butter, and to this they
arc consAtutionaIIy opposed The sons Of
farmers who 'grGvitaIe to the city, to in.
habit the tunnels with other tranps," do
not run for the want Of work, but to follow
the evil example OF getting away from
work, Farmcra and farmers families
seem obliged to work too hard-there Is
too much to DO dons-and some Of the
boys rebel and run, The country is suffer-
Ing for lack OF labor. Cl'ss by laying
down the following proposition:
In general, inventions Of labor.Baving
machinery increase the demand Tor labor
and increase tho pay Of the laboror, In
changing the form oil labor temporary
hardghips are experienced, and these ara
best met by faithful industry, economy,
temperance, and thoughtful inquiry for
better field Of labor.
The time may come when Mr.. SChill-
ing's elOqucnCe will he in demand to de.
nouncO ''land monopoly" but now, WREN
every man can have the gift OF farm by
taking it, it sounds slightly premature.