The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-12-16
WHAT AYR LABoss Rlon4s,
workers. AFRO wAaNlng In Nothing RuG
UnIty of Action.

In all controversy relating 10 che
relations Of capital and labor the
question almost Invariably asked is
What rights has capitalP The own.
eTs claim the right TO employ when.
how and as they please; by shop OF
working rules dix the payment and
daily hours OF labor; TO discharge
tho workmen when they please EN-,
ploy whom they choose; and finally
set up the broad claim that every
man has q right to do with his own
as he thinks proper. Abstractly
these claims / believe are correct
But capital accumulated by labor and
dependent upon itforits maintenance
profit and interest occupies very
different position when 1t assumed
In Its relation to labor the do. as. you
please method; the relations become
strained and differences arise
Labor claims that in this relation
1t 10 producer q maker to some ex-
tent OF capital when 1t Is accumulated
by construction, maintenance and
production. In such instances labor
claims a share OF the profits arising
from the sale OF the product think
this in belief is u 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 ,ustness 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 mem.
Der OF the firm WINS in favor OF O
lockout But when several employees
came to him. and he found that their
relation OF employer and employee had
existed for more than forty years he
stated to them, repeating the express
sion OF the men, Yes boyA 1t is our
factory and let us try and keep II
ours" The strike ended. The owner
saw that while he had the legal right
to do as he pleased, but by doing II
the faith and confidence OF his men
would be lost moral obligations for
once usurped legal rights.
The relations Of rights OF ownership
in industries is most p!tiable and gym
pathetic; 1t Is the sublime faith OF q
body OF men ir the generosity and
moral obligations OF one man. So
long as moral rights OF ownership arc
recognized, generosity arising from
this right Is exercised. and all is har.
mony and prosperity. But when a
little less profit than usual is mado.
or men require a 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 OK.
listing between capital and labor.
without any alliances or entanglo.
ments with any other party will not
only be certain Of success hut 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 II. Beckwith, M. 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 iour.foId
The value OF labor has only increased
q small percentae and gained that by
losing 800 600, 000 IN wages alone,
from strikes boycotts and lockouts.
This Ia an unfair proportion and should
be more equltably adjusted. As mat
ters now stand. the breach between
capital and labor constantly widens
Neither will consent to 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 ita
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 busi-
ness lessen the value OF capl.
tai md increase tho Aerceness OF
the contest 1t must be evident
10 every Workingman that combined
capital has recently determined to
destroy labor organi ,atlons, thereby
forcing labor 10 compel It's repPesOn.
tatives 10 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 power
that capital cannot rosist--a power OF
the government Labor. with its
true and fast frlendS constitutes so
per cent OF all the voters; II has
never assumed governmental con.
ArOl because it believed Its cause just
AID Its means OF securing justice were
adequate The cause remains Just
but the means have failed, Tariff for
revenue or high tariff cannot alter
she 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.
fooL until kha aNpOn.,aak ans ,,nnItLG