Middletown transcript., 1886-03-26

equivalent to the labor of 1000, 900
men, counting six men to each horse
power. The number of men en-
ployed in these industries is placed
at 4, ,OOO,O0 Upon this point the re-
port says
It is true that in those countries
where machinery has been developed to
the highest, the greatest Number of
work people are engaged, and that in
| those countries where machinery has
been developed olittle or no purpose
poverty reigns, ignorance is the pre-
vailing condition, and civilization con-
sequently far in the rear. Yet, if the
question should be asked, has the
| wage-worker received his equitable
share of the benefits to be derived from
the introduction of machinery, the
answer must be no. In the struggle
for industrial supremacy in the great
countries devoted to mechanical pro-
ductions, it probably has been impos-
sible for him to share equitably in such
benefits.
Upon immigration and the importa-
tion of foreign labor, after stating that
the census statistics show that 1915 per
cent of those engaged in agricultural
pursuits and 31.9 per cent of those en-
gagged in mechanical and mining indus
tries are of foreign birth, the commits
sioner says
1t is undoubtedly true that during
the past 80 years immigration has been
of inestimable value as an element in
American industrial progress, but it
cannot be said now, and probably not
to any great extent in the future, that
America is the home of the oppressed
of all nations. This advertisement
will undoubtedly be withdrawn, as
well as that other, that there is room
enough in the United States for all.
Legitimate voluntary immigration
may be too rapid to enable a country
developing its industries to assimilate
labor from the outside, but when i'm
migration becomes a'subject Of induce
ment Of contract, for the purpose of
displacing higher grade of labor, the
result is indeed pernicious, and all the
authority Of law should be called in to
prevent the continuance of the wrong.
The report says that at the present
time the effects of the depression in
circles are wearing away
and all the indications are that pros
perity is slowly and gradually, but
safely returning, and adds that the ex-
tent of the depression has not been SO
great as the popular mind has con-
eeived it, and that sit has been clear
ly shown that the depressions of the |
past in the manufacturing nations of |
the world have been nearly or quite
contemporaneous in their occurrence. "
In considering remedies for labor trou-
bles the report says:
What is known as industrial copart-
nership, involving profit sharing and
all the vitality there is in
The principle Of cooperation, offers a
practical way of producing goods on a
basis at once just to capital and to Ia
Dor, and one which brings out the best
moral elements of the capitalist and
,he workman. This system has been
,ried in many instances, and nearly
always with success. In the United
States but little has been done in this
direction, but wherever the principle
has been tried there have been
hree grand results: Labor has receiv-
ID more liberal share for its skill,
,apital has been better remunerated,
md the moral tone of the whole COM
nunity involved raised. = One of
he first advantages to be gained would
)e a reduction in the hours of labor,
considered by many as the only solu-
ion for labor troubles and the great
for industrial depressions.
1t is certain that under the present
onditions of manufacturing through
he aid of machinery, the hours of Ia
'or ought to be reduced, because the
raft on the human system necessary
o enable machinery to be well opera s
ed is so much greater than under
and process. There is no con-
est between labor and capital nor be-
ween the laborer and capitalist, as ,
uch, but there is contest between the !
after as to the profits of capital and
RACES, Of labor or, in simple
erms, as to the profits each
hall receive for his respective invest Z,
lent, and this contest will continue ,
D long as the purely wage system lasts. /.
t is absurd to say that the interests
{ capital and labor are identical. q
hey are no more identical than the @
lterests of buyer and seller. They u
re, however, reciprocal, and the intel
gent comprehension of this reciprocal
ement can only be brought into the +
lllest play by the most complete Or L
anization. y