Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-04-14
THERE IS TROUBLE AHEAD.

LUG ldUOI NDIiu 10 mOsCo Ny
restless spirit of grievance and dis
content; the same spirit of uneasi.
ness and dissatisfaction that per.
vades the financial world. These two
evils combined help to make the gen.
eral depression existing, but there is
prime cause in higher sense that
rests with legislation, or the want of
it, in money matters, tariff issues
and pending agitation and uncer-
tainty.
When capital and corporations
can no longer make their high per
cent. on investments they become
restless,-pick flaws here and pick
flaws there,-reduce, discharge, shut
down, and put their money in the
safety vaults. The press and the
public fiud no fault,-a man can do
with his money what he WILT is
his own. &
Labor becomes restless, dlssatisf-
ed, suggests arbitration, asks for rem
edies of existing grieyances,-is re-
pulsed, broods over it's real or i'm
aginary wrongs, "strikes," and its
irresponsible element goes to ex-
tremes,-public sentiment turns
against it; the press denounces
it; and Labor is made to bear the
blunt of all the distress and trouble,
while capital and corporations come
off victorious and retain public SEN
timent and sympathy on their side,
no matter how much they may have
been at fault.
We do not wish to defend Labor
as doing no wrong and having no
blame. but we do say that employ
ers should be made to bear their
share of the burden, since it is their
own cause that creates an equal
share of the trouble. But Capital is
prudent, cautious, scheming, all pow
erful in combination of strength and
possession Labor is weak,-the
weakest human ure,-shortsight-
ed,-disunited, cajoled, deceived,
purchased by fair promises and a
meaningless show of favor; Labor
has all the discordant elements to
deal with, augmented by want and
dependence. 1t has been demon.
strated, however, that Labor can do
something for itself;-it must go
slow the masses must be elevated,
educated,--made free from political
obligations,-in word must be
trained in the footsteps of Capital,
to look upon sELF-INTEREsT as the
one great object of perpetual
struggle.
Labor must study the ways of
power and wealth. Wealth and
power encourage and support only
that which encourages and supports
wealth and power-be it the press,
the pulpit, politics, or any other hui
man or divine agency. 1t is "boy-
colt " Of the finest order; of years,
not of a day. The world notices it
not, but it goes on silently and i'm
perceptibly, and accomplishes its
object. So must Labor educate it.
self if it would compete for sue.
cess.
Capital and corporations do moth
ing openly, but what tickles the
fancy of public sentiment. All their
rules and regulations have purpose
in view,-men are graded into ranks;
they have a capacity and worth,
all of which is marked down. The
managers trust to leaders and if
they lose their grip at one place,
they are sent somewhere else. They
have system in everything and for
everything. They must have, or
they would be at the mercy of num-
bers.
While Labor has its rights, it also
has its Obllgations,-to do honest
and faithful work, and to make every
reasonable effort to please aud salts.
fy its employers. There is nothing
so trying aud discouraging as to
have to put up with a careless, in.
different, unreasonable workman. 1t
is aggravating where only one or
two are concerned; where there are
hundreds the loss and worry are pro
portionate.
Therefore we defend neither Cap
tal nor Labor, except in their rights;
as there are wrongs on both sides
they can only be adjusted by meet
ing each other half way.
We take it as u fact that Capita!
is depressed and irritated. BY its
very action it communicates the de-
preston and irritation to labor. Does
it 60 squarely and fairly to the labor-
er and say, " Here, we are not max
ing a living cent on our invest
ment; we are getting deeper into
debt our machinery and appliances
are running down; we must econo'
mize; will you co operate with US
amicably and do the best we can I'M