The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-04-01

for the exchanging of ideas and thus sound
the depth of the great questions known as
social philosophy, and thus be enabled TO
unravel the complications of society and
reduce the whole to few simple principles
whose workings are practicable. Next II
should be necessary to spread these princi-
Piles I'm order to secure converts to them and
secure their application. Without Organiza-
ton this could never be accomplished, for
we would have to depend upon the willing
ness of our most capable citizens to sacrifice
much of their time and ability for the bene-
fit of others and as even the thinkers of the
world differ among themselves upon these
questions, the passive mind would become
bewildered by the multitude of thoughts. 1t
was clearly shown that the trades union
system was the science of improving matters
pertaining to existing conditions and creating
new and better ones. To sum 1t up briefly,
1t was stated that the trades union gives the
best known example of practical phllan-
throphy; 1t teaches each member his moral
duty as an individual; 1t encourages sobriety,
honesty and industry. While not making
temperance work its only object, yet the
trades union can point to more actual results
in that field of work than many societies
organized for that express purpose. 1t
teaches the ethical phases of political science
and shows its members how to use that
knowledge intelligently. 1t aims to elevate
woman to her proper sphere In society. 1t
inculcates the broad moral truths that are
the foundation stones of all Christian
churches. They teach that selfish develop
ment is no development In the true sense.
Thus they preserve all reforms with refer
ence to society as whole; they embody
nothing but what Is honorable, right, just
nd oNI. hotv oh 10 m acta a
kind and harmonious feeling between en-
ployer and employees; to teach prosperity
and the emancipation of the human mind
from rooted prejudices and unjust restraints.
After discussing the objects of trades
unions, the question relating to the economic
relations of the employing and the labOring
classes was taken up. We give an outline
as 1t was handled.
The employer represents capital. and cap
ital represents the means of production. The
end and object of production is cOnsump-
ton. Thus the question of distribution is
of more immediate importance than any
question to be sounded today. To illustrate
this 1t was shown that to increase distribu-
ton would mean less poverty for the masses.
The report Of the commissioner of labor Of
the United States give grounds to call our
attention to this fact. Statistics of 1886 in
the United States are developing manufac-
turing far beyond the power of home con-
sumption, and this with one million able
bodied men here in enforced idleness and a
similar percentage abroad. The families of
these unemployed are actually in many
cases suffering for food, clothing and
lodgings, and yet we hear of over produc-
ton.
The only remedy for this state of affairs
would be to shorten the hours to constitute
a days work. If the question was clearly
understood by all and the unemployed who
are begging for work but to work, it would
be as the discovery of a new market and the
market determines the demand and the con-
diton of the people determines the market.
The next subject was in regard to the
bright prospects of Carpenters Union 1913,
and the benefits to be derived by shortening
the hours to eight or nine if brought about
properly. The result in other cities demon
strates this. 1t was shown that in other
cities the merchants received the greater
share of benefits by a greatly increased cash
trade In four years the unions have adj
vanced the wages of carpenters in 413 cities,
25 to IS cents per day. which for the union
and nOn-uniOn men interested amounts to
FIVE and half million dollars per year to
the carpenters in those places, making pros
porous cities and happy homes.
Beside being protective trade union the
brotherhood is also benevolent society,
having in the past eight years paid in death
benefits S346, 5l6.
He also spoke of the retail clerks union
who have branch in Owosso. He told of
great praise which they were receiving in
other cities. Their objects as stated were
to disseminate useful information by means
of lecture pamphlets and other industrial
literature, and in this manner bring about
the early closing system as now in practice
in other cities.