The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-23
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
MIR. Crows Words of Wisdom
Before the State Board OF
Agriculture.

The Pennsylvania state Board of Agricul-
tare resumed IL sessions here to-day. A
large number of papers were read ON sub
jects Of interest to the members. In the ev-
ching Galusha A. Grow delivered an address
on agriculture before a large audience.
In the course of his remarks he said that
next to agriculture the question of greatest
national concern Is labor. OF all the pernic-
iuus influences. said Mr.. Grow, which lead 10
national decay the most baleful is a policy
that deerldss or impoyerishes labor The
strength of nations consists not in fleets and
: armies. but in the manly spirit of AN indie
rcndent veomanry and in the intelligence,
comfort and happiness OF the labOring classes.
The principle j. correct and just that labor.
whether Of brain or muscle, ought To receive
out of the accumulation of wealth in proper
lion To what IL contributes towards the ae-
cumulation.
But in reducing this principle To practice,
in order to do it justly the fact must not he
overlooked that in all pursuits labor is paid
in current expenses during the continuance
of the business, whether there is any final
profit ar not. Authentic statistic show that
a very large per cent ufall kinds Of business
ends in bankruptcy, thus sinking whatever
amount of capital may have been invested.
In all such eases it is clear that labor receives
its full proportion or more, for it shares no
iart of the LOSSES.
The real solution of the labor problem in
this country is 10 determine how high the
wages or compensation for labor can 90 with
ont destroying labor itself The deternina-
ton of that point is its only solution; all
else j. merely the expediency Of palliatives.
Arbitration well enough in itself, only set
ties the existing dispute, which may arise
aguin in the same or a different shape a. Of
Ten as it is settled. The cause Of the dispute
j. not hereby removed but remains the same
as before.
The higher the price labor can be paid and
retain the market for its products the better
it is for everybody, aud TO that point in all
eases the employer can 60, but beyond that
point it il an impossibility, for labor cannot
be paid in the production of AN article more
than the article itself will sell for in market.
The market price for an article and the com
pensation to be- paid To labor in its produc-
ton is not, except 10 a limited extent fixed
by our country alone. In respect Ia both we
are in competition with the markets of the
world.
\ disagreement between thc vmpiuyer and
emuloye A. 60 the wage. oflalrlr Is no more
a war between capital and laiar thau a di,a-
grecment between the mcpaam and hi, Gus
TONER a. % the pnoc of arici- offered for
sale l. a war between the pnsluocr and con-
sumner. Capital and labor are mutually dc
pendent GOA each other and there can De- no
labor i'm free elective governments, said Mr..
Grow. are 10 be removed in the same way a.
any other grievance l. rcinoved-by al APP
peal 60 the intelligent Judgment of public
opinion. In free constitutional government,
with free speech. free press and universal bal
lot, there can he mo excuse for a rc>ort 10 yiu-
lcucc for the correction of amy grievance. In
such "a government obedience to the COM
mand> uflaw and the mandat,- of courts j.
paramount To all cl>c. No matter what the
grievance, complained ofmay be, a resort 10
lawlc>s violence is au attack upon the rights
ofevcry law abiding citizen, upon organized
~,cicty itself. and if successful is the first
step in the road that Leads To anarchy and
national ruin.
An enlightened public opinion in a free
government will in the end currctf all real
grievances, if pcaceable means only arr en-
ploycd Il may require time and patience
but that !, the case with all attempts 10 re-
move lo-ng-~tauding abuses. No cause. great
or small was ever yet benefited 10y the viola
lion of fundamental principle, "t right. God
rules the universe by immutablc laws nfiu>-
tee, and il il, iu vain for man tu attempt To
nullify them. one mans rights end where
anuthcr's begin. Is the fundamental principle
Of all just laws and is the basis of civilized
society. Liberty j. the right of every person
10 engage in amy lawful pursuit for a liveli-
hood. and continue therein. without him
drlncc or mnlcstation Icy any other person
and it is despotism IN lis worst form hat de-
priyes him of this right, a crime against hu-
manity scarcely less than the taking of life
it-.lf