The morning call., 1892-07-13
THE RELATIONS OF LABOR AND
CAPITAL.

Labor is capital in another form One
man, by years OF application. becomes an
artisan, while another, with perhaps less
mechanical and more business ability. be-
comes an employer Both are workers. but
on separate lines Of endeayor By the aid
Of both, Industries spring into existence to
the prosperity of which The cooperation of
both is essential. In many cases the en-
ployer becomes rich through the inventive
genius OF tie men in his mill Inventions
do not spring into full life all at once. De-
signs are worked over ard over, the de-
signeT contributing the brains and the
employer the money TO carry them to an
effective stage It IS not Just TO saw that
either employer or employe has an absolute
ownership oil 8n industry built up in this
way. The employer may have a legal title
10 his mill, but in tie settlement Of great
Questions the equities are to be con nsidered
Has not the body Of men whose labor has
contributed to whatever degree Of success the
Industry has attained some rights in equity
as well as the employer who has contrib
Uted capital and business experience? The
CALL some days since suggested that courts
Of arbitrament might be established to ex-
anime into the equities Of such cases. At
present We have courts which adjust indi-
vidual differences. Each party to a case
makes the best showing he can in court and
abides by the decision. He may think he is
wrOnged, but he does not appeal to violence
for redress. But for differences which arise
between bodies Of men there are no consti-
tutej tribunals to appeal 10. The letter Of
the law allows man to discharge and en-
piOy his men as he may please. The labor
organizations impose some restraint upon
this legal right; but their ability to
90 so depends rather upon the ina
biity Of the employers TO get along
without their members than upon any
recognition labor organizations receive from
the law itself. Now, why should not the
differences which may arise between the
hundreds Of men employed D large indus
trial enterprise and the few men who have
put money in such ENTERPRISE be authorita-
lively adjusted as well as the differences
that arise between individuals? Is not
justice as likely 10 be done In one case as in
the other? One good result that would at
tend the establishment Of such courts
would be the dissemination Of the real
facts of a case. The public would be in
formed whether employees were underpaid,
fairly paid or oveTpaid. The Homestead
owners have given out reports that some of
50 well paid that it was their custom to ride
10 and from work in carriages. This is
true or il is not true. II true the books of
the company would show its truth. If not
true its ialsity would be made apparent. A
judicial investigation like that suggested
would bring TO light facts which would de-
termine in the public mind the merits Of a
controversy. At the present time no one
not personally acquainted with the affairs OF
the Homestead Iron Works knows either
the ranges Of wages or the profits OF tie
owners. These two facts are essential to
an understanding Of the merits of the con
tToyersy. The day is past when employers
can say that it is no ones business how
much money they make by combinations.
The continued prosperity of the country
depends upon scientific adjustment OF
wages as compared with profits. The law
may lock on while an employer who is
making enormous profits forces his employees
TO accept less than the standard rates
Of wages but such courts as we have sug-
gested will make this investigation a part OF
their dDfy