The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-09-09

laborers to assume Z share" of 4 In
reduced wages Do not trusts and
combines in unprotected industries shut
down portion of their factories and
throw labor out of employment without
reimbursement? Do not single indi-
vldual factories shut down when profits
are hight or nil, and thus force unem-
ployed labor to stand all the loss? Not
only is the proposition not absurd, but
it Is simply statement of the regular
actual practice in vogue. The laborer
does share the losses Why should he
not also share the profits? and what
right has Mr. Carnegie to declare the
partnership dissolved, but refuse to di-
vide the divisible joint property? and
can partnership be dissolved except
by mutual consent of both parties there
to?
Your next proposition is as follows:
Editor Ward gets entirely away from the
basis Of civil and industrial conditions which
the News conceived in its former argument
The News was not discussing the abstract JUS
tice Of the advantages which the law has given
Mr. Carnegie in the pursuit and possession of
gain. Ignoring that question as practically ir-
citizen within the Jurisdiction of the law to
enter into limited contracts with laborers, the
equal rights OF laborers as citizens with the
same jurisdiction to enter into limited contracts
with Mr.. Carnegie and the equal rights of both
parties to the protection of the law in the exc.
cution OF the contracts To revolt against this
jurisdiction is to renOunce all such protection
| and to appeal to the arbitrament OF more or
less rapaciouS and destructive anarchy.
We gracefully acknowledge the point
you make The law must be remodeled
upon the basis of exact and equal JUS
tice and equity to all men, as foreshad-
owed in Senator Palmer's speech in the
United States senate. And one of the
actions which must be recognized as
opposed to the best interests of society
must be that of the scab or non-union
man, when he attempts to take his
union co-worker's job at reduced wages.
The law must either keep hands off or
protect union la Dor in it's rights.
You next say:
Editor Ward forgets a very important fact
when he speaks of the justice Of a Joint owner
ship in wealth jointly produced by brain and
Drawn, by manual labor more or less skilled
and experimenting, cOntriving and managing
intelligence Where the contract is for wages
Tue ldDOrer uOeS uOL put MS industrial power
into joint stock and look for his remuneration
in potential dividend from joint earnings. He
takes assurance against the risk Of failure to
realize the dividend in a final balance Of re-
ceipts and expenses by discounting it in the
shape of daily or weekly wages In this way
ne consumes daily or weekly what would be his
share Of capital invested in joint enterprise
he had contracted for proportional share Of
profits as Joint stockhoder.
Here apain uO11r YrarniSoS ara Qroi.
nently just and proper and your con-
illusions logical and correct, but,
strangely enough, you entirely ignore
the very esse<ce of the whole conten-
ton. The whole contention at Home
stead resolves itself into this PROPOSE
ton: Shall Mr.. Carnegie have the sole
right to dictate to his cola borers the
proportion of their joint production
they shall receive as daily Or weekly
wages" or shall the laborers, through
the official channel of their united or
ganization, have voice in determining
what is just and fair? Mr.. Carnegie
says no. His colaborers say yes. Is
not the proper method an arbitration
committee with national authority,
which shall rigidly inspect the books
of the firm and decide justly and i'm
partially, giving to Mr. Carnegie fair
wages and sinking fund for replace
ment of perishable capital and to his
colaborers an equitable division of
what remains?
Your final proposition reads as fol-
lows:
That so few laborers enter into such con-
fron apdt ;Ctin
sion to assuming such relations to capitalized
Industries, is practical and conclusive proof
that the great majority regards the present
system of wage contracts as for them the wisest
and safest, and that rather than give up the ad-
vantages of the system they are quite willing to
renounce all the theoretical blessings of joint
ownership OF the joint products of brain and
Drawn.
I dislike very much to conclude that
you are deliberately 'poking fun" at
labor's defenseless condition and use
this language as sarcasm from sinister
motives The reason $50 few laborers
enter such contracts" is: 1. Because,
owing to a lack of understanding of the
true nature, purposes and uses of
money, our financial system is so framed
as to render such laborers unable to
enter such contracts. 2. Because CAPT.
talists, seeing their advantage, are not
very prone to offer laborers any such
an opportunity.
All labor organizations are in sym
pathy with the general spirit of the
following propositions taken from the
latter part of the declaration of pur-
poses and principles of the Knights of
Labor:
And while making the foregoing demands
upon the state and national government we
will endeavor to associate our own labors
II. To establish cooperative institutions, such
as will tend to supersede the wage system. by
the introduction of cooperative indust trial
system.
y. To secure for both sexes equal pay for
equal work
u. To gain some of the benefits of labor say
ing machinery BY gradual reduction of the
hours OF labor to eight per day.
q. To persuade employers to agree to arbi-
trate all differences which may arise between
them and their employees, in order that the
bonds of sympathy between them may be
strengthened and that strikes may be rendered
unnecessary.-George c. Ward, in Dallas TEX
News.
The Louisiana state alliance has
been in session. Heretofore the body
has never broken loose from the demo
cratic party, and supported the demo
80 IL L. l. - n