Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-03-22
The Labor pr0blem.


What will be the final outcome of the
organization of labor now taking place so
rapidly in this country, We will have to
await the future to know; but meanwhile
we may try to form an opinion about it.
The immediate prospect is that there will
be great reduction in the amount of en-
ployment offered to labor, owing to the
unwillingness of those who employ it to
take the chances of the threatened increase
in the cost of labor. The uncertainty will
check enterprise. The price Of manufac-
tures Is likely to advance, because Of tue
increase Of cost and the diminution of
product.
But that In the end the wages of labor
win be increased is very doubtful. The
laborer cannot do without employment
indefinitely. The employer can let his
works remain indefinitely lille. They may
pass to his creditors, but when it becomes
certain that his creditors will get them
anyhow, there will be no inducement to
endeavor to postpone the day. Itisas clear
as anything can be that the wages of labor
cannot for any length of time be made so
high as to deprive those who pay them of
any profit on their investment of capital.
For still shorter time can they be so high
as to make the cost of manufacture greater
than the selling price. The wages of labor
must be such as the employer can afford to
pay and this none will question. But the
doubt is as to how much he can pay.
Those whom he employs will not believe
his statement Of cost. In Wilmington,
Delaware, the other day, Mr.. jackson, of
the jackson q Sharp company, exhibited
his books to his employees to satisfy them
that he could not pay them greater wages
upon the prices his company was receiving
Tor its products. The examination was
made and showed that Mr.. Jackson's state
ment was correct; but his workmen still
doubted. They thought they had been de-
ceiyed. They did not trust their own CON-
petency to comprehend the books they ex-
amined.
Generally workmen are ignorant of
everything save their special employment.
II they were called to manage the business
In which they are employed, the sheriff
would sell them out in very short time.
Yet they are apt to think that the whole
business is the result of their labor and
that they earn all its profits. They con-
slider that their employers have no ad-
vantage over them, save in their capital,
and that all the reward the business reaps
b the reward of capital.
No mistake could begreater. The profit
is earned by the skillful manipulation OF
capital or is lost by its unwise direction.
In this very matter of the control of the
labor force is one of the largest fields for
the display of skill. The employer who
would yield to all the demands of labor
4 would soon be in the sheriff's hands and
1t Is notable fact that the employer
who Is most resolute in maintaining the
control of his own business, and in resist
Ing the dictation of those for whom b,
provides labor, is the one who is most sue
cessful In his business. But it is also to b,
noted that he is most fair and liberal to hi
employees when he is left alone.
Every sensible employer desires to pay a
large wages as he can afford to pay, be
cause he knows that when he pays tn,
best price In the market he gets the bes
4 Product; and besides this he desires :,
Resp his customers contented anC
steady In his employment. 1t il
very doubtful whether the Knights O
Labor will ever become strong enough
z to dictate to the employers Of labor hoy
they shall employ tand what they shall pa
II. 1t Is contrary to every sound busines
principle to yield business TO such outsid
control and consequently the bushes
that Is SO yielded, will not succeed wher,
fore such dictation will not succee d, sine
y - one will deny that business must /
Z ouscf ssful TO enable labor to find ,emplo,
4 moRk And the significant question ther,
IN 4 whether the Knights Of Labor wi
0ot Kill the goose to get its golden egg
VI ~ the answer depends who'll
1coa the extent to which I'll
pization proposes to press its presen
b Guug. II It uses it wisely and strictl
y ~ &hat the wages Of labor are made O
- - tl,e proft Of business viii wai rant
80 I'm uif1 ha n henof;t - -,