The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-06-27

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AT THE CLASS DAY EXERCISES UNIvER-
sIrY OF MICHIGAN, JUNE "a, 1890.
1850, 900 coal miners laid down their picks
and shovels to-day, 1000, 600 wage-workers
are directly or Indirectly affected" This
was the startling cablegram that announced,
few months since, the Inauguration of the
most extensive strike in the worlds history.
Less than year before, the streets of
London echoed for weeks the footsteps of
$50, 900 dock men, demanding slightly in
creased compensation for their IL hours
labor. 1888 will long be memorial in the
history of the United States by reason of the
obstinate strike on the G. Il. & Q. R'y-a
strike that caused the loss of millions of
dollars, and seriously involved the business
interests of the entire country. The unpar-
alleled labor demonstrations throughout the
whole civilized world, on the lst of May last,
are not yet forgotten. What signify these
incidents SO apart from the ordinary course
of industrial life? Why are the wage-work-
ers on either side of the Atlantic so restless,
so discOntented? We may we'll consider
nay, rather the swift currents of events
compels us to considerable grievances and
claims of these thousands and tens of thou
sands of working-men. 1t will no longer
suffice for employers to hear their plea and
answer only by cOntemptuOus silence; it
will no longer suffice for political economists
TO tell the starving workman that he is
under the reign of natural law, and that
nothing can be done to better his condition;
it will no longer suffice for the churches to
preach the gospel of submission to wrongs
here in the hope of happiness hereafter; it
will no longer suffice for politicians to plead
the cause of labor, and fail to legislate in its
interest.
The labor movement of to-day presents a
striking contrast to that of even decade
ago. The leaders are no longer theorists or
demagogues, but men of intelligence and
capacity, competent to direct and control
the various, and sometimes hostile groups,
that together constitute the labOring classes.
Nor are the rank and file of those, who de-
mand a change in industrial and economic
conditions merely the shiftless, unstable
idlers, but rather the most skilled mechanics,
the most successful artisans, and even that
most conservative element of society, the
intelligent farmer.
What then are the grievances of the wage
workers? Why do capital and labor seem
to separate into hostile camps, and the
enmity between them grow more bitter each
day? Are there any deep seated wrongs to
which the laboring man is compelled to sub
nit? Stated i'm the most general terms, the
complaint of the wage-workers is, that they
have not shared to just and reasonable
extent in the advantages of the 10Th century
civilization. Wealth has increased marvel
Ously, but has steadily concentrated in the
hands of the few. Luxury and ease are the
characteristic condition of the employing
class; not so with the workman-a constant
struggle for existence is his lot. Let us now
consider their grievances more specifically:
HOURS OF LABOR.
1t is claimed that the hours of labor are
too long, and can be shortened without
detriment to the industrial interests of the
nation. Modern inventions and discoveries
have constantly lessened the time requisite
for the production of the economic demands
of the nation. Production by rapid machin-
cry has superseded the slow process of hand
manufacture. Frequently single invention
has displaced and saved the labor of thou
sands of men. In an article in the Popular
Science Monthly, few years ago, Prof.
David Wells, estimated that the production
of the United States, by the now discarded
methods, would require natiOn-not of 60
but of 225 millions. This tremendous in
crease in the productive capacity of the
nation seems to warrant the statement that
fewer hours labor per day would provide for
despite the fact that the standard of living
is much higher now than formerly.
Again, the drafts on the nervous energy
of the operator are greater and more ex-
haustive under the regime of machine work
than i'm the days of hand manufacture. No
revolution of the balance-wheel and no
pulsatiOn of the never-varying, never-resting
engine must fail to find the machinist alert,
and ready to employ the power thus furnish
ed. The application must be unremitting
and intense. This increased intensity of
application necessitates longer periods of
rest and recuperation.
A reduction in the number Of hours work
per day Is far from an experiment. The
hours of labor have been repeatedly curtail-
ed without loss to either the workman or his
employer, and further reduction seems
natural and necessary.
CHILD LABOR.
The effect of machinery Is in many cases
to transform the operator into a mere attach
ment of the machine; his work becomes. as
automatic and as unconscious as the machine
itself; day after day the same monotonous
task Is performed Work of this nature is
easily learned and can often be as satisfac-
torily done by boy as by a man, and we
find that manhood labor is gradually dis
placed by that of youth. The greed of the
manufacturers and the necessities of the
half-paid parents alike contribute to this
end. Despite the efforts of humanitarian
associations and the jealous endeavors Of
sympathetic, thinking men and women,
statistics show that chld-labor is increasing
i'm the United States much faster than the
population. What may we expect to be the
Inevitable result both to the children and to
the other laborers?
At the very age, when life should be
freest,-when the mind should be unfetter-
ed,-when every faculty should be trained,
when every association and influence
should be carefully guarded when the
body should be developed and strengthened
i'm the purest air by vigorous exercise,-the
child, incapable of self protection, Is taken
from school, placed among associates, many
of whom are Incorporate and depraved, and
compelled to toll increasingly. Amidst the
most undesirable surroundings the child
learns 10 tend machine, and grows to man
hood, stunted alike in mind and body, the
mere shadow of man, worthless to himself
and a menace to society.
BY their employment children become
the unnatural competitors Of their parents.
The employer demands only tender for his
machine and he can secure the services of
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