The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-19


. list of seventy-two articles. and the table was
abundantly provided. There never was time
when SO much could be had for so little and our
abundance curses us simply because we 90 cot
know how to use It. These are not heroic meas
ures am advocating, and some may sheer at
their suggestion; but they are sensible. Along
these humble and homely lines of endeavor
must be largely sought the improvement In the
material condition of the poor and what is more.
they must be encouraged and urged to take this
improvement into their own hands.
This involves the right, nay 1t implies the
necessity and the obligation of association The
man who does not pursue his own interest will
lose his interest Nobody else will look after it.
knowledge must be met by knowledge. the part
nership of capital by the cooperation OF labor.
The problem is simply this. the employer wants
the greatest possible amount of work for the
least possible wages and the employe wants the
largest wages for the least possible amount of
work 1t is the battle between minimum and
maximum, and unless the laborer knows his
ground ne will fight when be ought to stay in
camp, and will sleep when he ought to fight 1t
is one of the stupendous iniquties of legislation
that not until 1924 were combinations of work
ingmen for improving wages and reducing the
hours of labor rendered legal in England, and not
until 1871 did the aborer secure his character Of
untrammeled liberty. For 600 years he had been
treated as child, who HAD no right to make q
free contract and who could not be trusted to
confer and debate with his fellows And there
satanic conspiracy against industrial prosperity.
and who cannot see the justice of giving to the
laborer what has never been denied to the en-
ployer But they have come to stay. 1t is easy
enough to convict the labor associations of folly
and tyranny. They have had bad counselors
and selfish leaders, they have resorted to boy
cotting and terrorism; they have demanded that
factories shall be controlled by their own COM
mittees, in whose conferences the employer shall
have no voice. they have insisted that no dis
- ~A.A- LII - 49,
worthless labor; they have restricted the number
OF apprentices in many Of the trades, closing the
avenues of honorable industry against their own
children; they have demanded arbitration and
then violated their own pledges. and
they have organized strikes upon the slightest
provocation. They have not always been wise,
and they must modify many of their claims IL
they are not prepared to invite disaster and de-
feat. They are strong only when they are just.
But, under sober guidance. they have their place
and may be productive of much good. There are
some who, following Marx, advocate co-opera-
tive production, or what is called industrial fed
eralism, where every laborer Is also capitalist
and every worker his own employer. But the
practical difficulties, thus far, have proved to be
almost insurmountable, mainly from the lack Of
skilled erintendence and the unwllingness to
make good losses az well as to share in heavy
profits. Cooperative distribution has been more
successful, and Is capable Of indefinite enlarge
ment. Cash stores, however, where the pur-
chaser Is his own carrier, have been more sue
cessful in this country, while the cooperative
system is in favor in England
Relief and insurance societies are other forms
Of cooperating from whose extension much may
be hoped for The main danger to be guarded
against Is insecurity. and to secure safety it may
be advisable to remand all such organizations to
governmental supervision and control; for the
contributions of the poor should be protected to
the utmost limit Of the law. And when all these
means fail there Is one heroic measure left-em-
igration. Let the young and vigorous act upon
Horace Greeley'slaconiG advice: ''Go West, young
man" Not that life will be easy there. But the
ranks are not oyercrowded, and nature offers a
roomy home and the certainty Of pleaty. There
is enough, if men will only go where it is.