The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-11-11
CORPORATION FARMING.
EVOLUTION IN PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRY
No. |.

The last half century has wrought
great changes in productive industry in
every lire of business. Steam power
has been harnessed to the invention OF
labor saving machinery to multiply
production and create wealth to the
extent of many thousands additional
human hands. Labor saving is mis-
homer when applied to the multiplica-
ton of products cf labor. Labor saving
machines have added to the power OF
human brain and muscle tc produce,
and in the order OF natural laws should
have added to the reward Of labor.
That this result has not followed the
introduction of SO called labor saving
machinery argues a perversion OF
natural law which cannot be violated
without the punishment for such in
fringment speedily following. That
such punishment is now being melted
out for the transgression the evidence
is observable on every hand.
1t is an interesting study to trace the
progress and rapid advance of this in
noyation of inventive genius on the
ancient methods of manual labor, when
the machine was made to do drudgery
and man lifted up to direct the imam
innate but ever obedient machine. The
blacksmith shop at the cross roads has
developed into the great iron manufac-
tory with its clouds of smoke darkenlng
the sky while the earth trembles with
the roar of its machinery; the weaver's
hand loom in the farm house and vii
lage cottage has disappeared before the
great factory with its hum and crash of
thousands of spindles and shu!tles the
carpenter shop with plane and handsaw
has gone and in its stead the immense
door and sash factory is musical with
the hum of buz saw and power planer,
steam everywhere moving mammoth
machines with the power of a thousand
human arms, In every branch OF
productive industry this titan has thrust
itself offering to lift the burthen of
labor from human shoulders if only
directed by human brain. 1t has mul-
tiplied the products of industry a
thousand fold but has not lessened the
burthen of want which presses so heav.
lily on the masses.
If labor has not availed itself of the
beneficent help.mate which natural
forces harnessed to the inventions of
genius have offered, capital has. Labor
solitary and alone, to large extent
clogged by ignorance, has not been able
to secure its fair share of the good
things which this new order in the
world of productive industry has fur
nished to supply the demands of human
want. Capital which ever commands
labor in order to add to its store, was
not slow in taking possession of, and
exercising undisputed control of these
new forces, by right of purchase and
power of ownership. Then commenced
the war of capital against labor as is
popularity believed, but the war Of com.
petition, which forced capital to resort
to every expedient to save itself from
destruction by capital its active and
enterprising enemy directed by other
sklllful hands and sleepless brains.
The history of war amongst nations
for dominion and self preservation, has
been repeated by capital and is still
being waged, for wealth and self pres
ervation. The weaker states formed
alliances with neighboring states for
mutual help and muturl advantage, and
out of these friendly alliances grew
powerful empires controlled by one
sovereign and under one government,
many disconnected and warning States
being finally lost in one great empire.
The opposing elements of capital
controlled by the same law of self pres
eryaton, have followed in the path Of
nations, impelled by power they
could not resist. individuals formed
copartncrships, copartnerships enlarged
into corporations, and corporations are
now combining into trusts, those great
despotic empires of trade and business,
which are defying States and MANAGING
he central government.
This evolution in civilized society is
not confined to its mechanical divisions,
but every branch Of what is termed
business among the non-produc class
mas availcd itself of it with even more
powerful results than the former.
Colossal syndicates in every branch of
non.productive industry are steadily