Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-27
VIEWS OF A LABOR JOURNAL.
An Adherence Of Anarchy and . Desi

An Adherence Of Anarchy and . Desire
for a Fair Adjustment.
The Labor Tribune will print this week
editorials entitled "The Great Problem and
LAS to Anarchy" The following is an ex-
tract from the first article:
1.-THE best arrangement that has yet been
in practice in the iron and steel mill busi-
ness looking to peace between employer
and employed, has been the Amalgamated
Association. Its method is conciliation.
The only obstacle to the unqualified success
Of this plan is that ever-present quality of
mankind known as human selflshness. Un-
fortunately this Is an element that cannot
be gotten rid OF. for though it is said by sem
tlmentalists that "Iove makes the world 20
round" yet, in fact, it is selfishness that per-
forms this operation. So in considering the
solution Of the capital and labor problem
selfshness must be taken into the account.
Our theory is that Justice and a wholesale
sprinkling of broad mind is the way to buck
against & the greed factor: This and as little
Is kept away from paternalism the better
Tor the freedom of the citizen. It is not un-
reasonable to assert that ii wOrkmen had d.
rect interest in the establishments in which
they are employed the result would be q
near to permanent peace as is practicable.
1t Is not difficult to imagine what the result
would be in one workshop The question is
could the plan be applied generally.
"It may not have been the intention of
those who devised the corporation method
TO give other than capitalists double
their money, but it is easy to believe that
the theory was that this method would admit
OF very general CO operation and thus enable
fWir t ha, TO gam position tnat would be
ness would admit. We prefer the latter view
because it is reasonable and because it is
the present phase of the labor and capital
problem better than any other that has come
to our notice. If this theory he not pnt in
practice. or one equally as general, it would
be preferable that corporations, so far as the
manufacturing industries are concerned,
should be abolished and the old fashion Of
purely private companies OF firms return.
This at least would furnish incentive
to workmen, for under that old fashion
and before the corporation reared its
head and had proceeded so far in its COB
BILE of wealth, the skilled workman was ire
ouently admitted to the firm that he had we'll
few mill firms in Pittsburg that had not one
or more members who started at rolls or
furnace; now such firms are the exception,
and, where there is one it is an old-timer that
still lives or has not been transformed into
the corporation shape. Under the corpora
tion as it is practiced, so large capital l. re-
quired TO 20 into business that only the
wealthy can take a share, and of course the
tendency is to further concentration of
wealth and the further development OF three
distinct elements of population-capital
middle and working classes. The drift OF
this drift we would turn into the wholesome
channel whose current would take the peo-
pie squarely back to the citizenship equality
mentioned in such early State papers, now
almost obsolete, as the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and the Constitution of the Re-
public.
Every day almost brings it's own new de-
tail OF reason for regret that conditions have
become so untoward that what should be u
plain proposition, namely, the arrangement
of wage scale, cannot be accomplished
with as good feeling as any other Important
business transacrions. What is the reason
OF this? Is there any man so consummate
ass as to assert the fault Is one-sided? Vir-
tue and wisdom do not perch as a monopoly
on the banner of labor organization any
more than it does on that of the employers.
Better look home for shortcomings, both of
you, and after earnest effort at reformation
there will be no need of appeal to public
opinion, for you will be able to come TO
agreements yourselves, and without other
lubricant than sturdy enoeavor to be flir.'
The article upon the anarchist outbreak
is introduced as follows:
Murder that partakes OF the elements of
assassination, that is to say. mur der not done
in the heat OF passion. is particularly detest-
able. When the motive of the act is other
than personal and the crime is committed
in Republic such as the United States it
becomes more especially one to be repu-
dated promptly and emphatically. OF this
latter class was the attempt upon the lite of
Chairman Frick, of the Carnegie Steel Com
pany, on Saturday last. The prisoner,
Berkman, is held on charge of felonious
shooting. In case there be no fatal result
he can be punished on the charges, felon-
1ous assault upon Mr.. Frick and upon Mr.
Leishman. Whatever the term of fimprison-
ment may be it will be inadequate to fit this
crime-a crime that is against both employer
and workman. Wholesome-mInded men,
whether workmen OF employers. will regret
that the law does not take cognizance of the
of criminal and punish in accord
with that intention.o