The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-12-16
WHAT ARE LABoR.s RloHTs7
Workers Are Wanting In Nothing But
Unity Of Action.

Workers Are Wanting In Nothing But
Unity Of Action.
In all controversy relating to the
relations of capital and labor. the
question almost invariably asked is
What rights has capital? The own
ers claim the right to employ when
how and as they please; by shop or
working rules fix the payment and
daily hours of labor; to discharge
the workmen when they please; en-
ploy whom they choose; and. finally.
set up the broad claim that every
man has right to do with his own
as he thinks proper. Abstractly
these claims believe are correct
But capital accumulated by Labor and
dependent upon it for its maintenance
profit and interest occupies very
different position when it assumes
in its relation to labor. the do as-you
please method; the relations become
strained and differences arise.
| Labor claims that in this relation
it is u producer. a maker to some ex-
tent Of capital when it is accumulated
by construction. maintenance aud
production. In such instances labor
claims share of the profits arising
from the sale of the product l think
this in belief is fair statement of
the claims Of each party, and from
the differences of these claims has
arisen the contest between them. A
number of merchants manufacturers
ETC.. have recognized the BUSINESS of the
claim of labor and have adopted CO.
operative system in division of profits
Mr.. Robert Mitchell OF Cincinnati
employed nearly 4. 900 men in manu-
featuring furniture. The men struck
for higher wages. The younger men,
Der of the firm was. in favor of a
lockout But when several employees
came to him. and he found that their
relation of employer and employe had
existed for more than forty years he
stated to them. repeating the express
sion Of the men. .'Yes. boys. it is our
factory. and let US try and keep it
ours" The strike ended. The owner
saw that while he had the legal right
to do as he pleased. but by doing it
the faith and confidence of his men
would be lost moral obligations for
once rsurped legal rights
The relations of rights of ownership
in industries is most pitiable and gym
pathetic; it is the sublime faith of a
body of men in the generosity and
moral obligations of one man. So
long as moral rights OF ownership are
recognized, generosity arising from
this right is exercised. and all is har-
mony and prosperity. But when a
little less profit than usual is made.
or men require slight increase Of
pay. the pleasant relations are sew
cred. confidence is lost and old
friends become passionate enemies.
A political party organized for the
express and specific purpose of per-
manently settling the difficulties ex-
listing between capital and labor.
without any alliances or entangle.
ments with any other party, will not
only be certain of success but be of
inestimabe benefit to the peace and
perpetuity of the republic.
A little time to educate and har-
monte the elements of labor will be
necessary before the party becomes
dominant writes S. r. Beckwith, NJ D..
in the Journal of the Knights of Labor.
During the last thirty years the
government states municipalities and
townships have paid more than three
billion of debts. and Notwithstanding
this wealth has increased tour-fold.
The value of labor has only increased
a small percentae, and gained that by
losing 500 600. 600. In wages alone.
from strikes boycotts and lockouts.
This is an unfair proportion and should
be more equitably adjusted. AS mat
ters now stand. the breach between
capital and labor constantly widens
Neither will consent to a settlement
from any proposition that has been
offered. The inherent love of wealth,
the inordinate vanity of display and
foolish pride of maintaining social re-
lations are such that capital will con-
tinue to prevent an increase in the
price of labor Labor to secure its
claims has united in forming unions
and organizations and they in turn
have adopted measures which produce
distress and suffering among working
men and their families. impair bust
ness lessen the value of CAPT.
tai and increase the ferceness of
the contest. 1t must be evident
to every workiugman that combined
capital has recently determined to
destroy labor organizations thereby
forcing labor to compel its represen-
tatives to negotiate individually with
capital in the price of labor. This
force cannot be resisted unless labor
adopts an opposite course OF proceed
ure and assumes to exercise a power
that capital cannot resist-a power of
the government Labor. with it's
true and fast friends constitutes 80
per cent of all the voters; it has
never assumed governmental con-
troll because it believed it's cause just
and its means of securing justice were
adequate The cause remains just
but the means have failed, Tariff for
revenue Or high tariff cannot alter
the false value of corporations and
trusts or reduce interest and salaries.
This evil is on the increase and the
price of labor must decrease in the
same ratio Labor is wanting in
nothing but unity of action. Com
bined capital will crush out the weak
unions first and move on in the at
tack until the strongest ana wealth.
est labor union will be the weakest
As soon as the move commences. pro-
vided no radical change in the present
successful management OF the govern