The Washington critic., 1886-03-24
WASHINGTON, MARCH 81, 1886.
FEpERATIoNs OF CAPITAL.

FEDERATIoNs OF CAPITAL.
While legislation hositatcs in the
presence of the various problems sug-
gested by the disturbed relations of
labor and capital, as though powerless
TO grapple with them; and while arbi.
tration without the mutual disposition
TO arbitrate means nothing and prom
ises nothing, the war between the an
tagonizing forces must continue until
one or the other goes to the wall.
This being the situation, we are not
ut all surprised to learn that the same
principle by which the labor organiza-
tions of New England are so banded to-
gether-455 assemblies and $4,000
members-that in case of emergency
they are prepared to act as one man, is
in process Of adoption by the manufuc-
turers of those States.
A Boston letter to the current issue
light on this movement. 1t says that
unions of the character proposed,
though to limited extent, have eX-
listed for long time among the mill
owners, but "rather for the purpose of
assuring uniform prices for labor than
as a means for the protection of in
dividu0l companies or manufacturers
against demands presented by federated
labor" They now propose to carry
the principle to its full and furthest
limit. Such an organization has been
formed in Rhode Island. Another is
in course of formation in Maine. An
other is in active operation in Cohoes,
N. Y, where the strike of the spinners
in the hosiery mills has thrown several
thousand operatives out of work.
In the meantime movement is max
ing for National meeting of manu-
facturers and business men at Chicago
to consider the same general subject,
and devise plans for future action.
If these associations become general,
all the manufacturers and mill-owners
of the country acting in concert and
obligated by bond to sustain one an
other, the first consequence Of such a
tremendous consolidation Of power
will be to make local strike a general
lockout. The weapon of offense and
defense thus becomes two.edged. To
illustrate: A manufacturing corpora.
tion at Lewiston, Me-, has been idle for
some time because of the discharge of
single employe. Under the con-
templated arrangement, strike thus
instituted would be met by the closing
of every mill belonging to the 'associa
ton. 1t might include every mill in
the New England States, and, for that
matter, mills in many other States.
There would be an immediate cessation
of the manufacturing industry and the
question become one of endurance at
once-with the combined corporations
on one side and the combined organiza.
tions of labor on the other.
The manufacturers keep the details
of their scheme very carefully to them
selves; but it is said on good authority
that in Rhode Island the parties to the
pool agree to put up five per cent. of
the amount of their pay-rolls as a guar
antee fund with which to hold their
own through all periods of suspension.
The fund thus raised in that locality
alone is estimated at not less than
$1,000, 900.
This brings the question to o sharp
issue. 1t is well, perhaps, that some
bold and desperate expedient should be
adopted, for the sooner the issue is
forced the sooner will it be settled.
The consequences of such an antag-
onism would be disastrous to many
other branches of business besides
those Immediately interested, and the
craftsmanship that now halts and
cringes in face of the difficulty would
he compelled to assert itself or fall to
the rear, giving place to higher and
Drawer order of capacity and patriotism.
If Labor and Capital are to be ar
rayed in hostile camps, the one striving
TO starve the other out, some remedy
will have to be found for so dangerous
strain upon the prosperity and peace
of the people, or there will be such au
uprising of the great middle classes
now practically independent of either
of these contending organizations, a
will bring them to reasonable terms
IT is the people of this country who
must rule, and though they are slow t.
assert their power, we have no fea
but what they will prove equal to any
crisis that circumstances may precipi
tate.
In the meantime cannot some plar
be devised whereby Labor and Capita
instead of pulling more and NOR,
apart, shall be made to pull together
This is a question of much more i'm
portance than that of suspended
postmaster
THE number of enlisted men in tn
army should be increased The ide
that 30, 900 soldiers are any too many
to police country the magnitude o
this is absurd. That there is any dan
ger in standing army of that size, o
even double that size, is equally alb
surd. Manderson and Logan are right ol
this question. The United States cal
no more afford to depend on a volun
teer military force for the protection O
its border lines or frontier sections thar
the city of New York can afford to re
turn to the old system of voluntee
fire department.
LEGISLATION in behalf of the pro
posed Congressional Library building
seems once more imminent. 1t is T.
be hoped that the House will meet tn