The advocate and Topeka tribune., 1892-11-09

CL9TN bO expect I'd remain Clerk forever,
and laborer to remain always laborer,
and that the incentive to push 10 the top
in their vocations being withdrawn, thay
will be able to turn their minds to their
av0cations, and become some, hing be.
side money makers. But few persous
will believe that any such possible ad-
vantage will offset the loss Of energy
which has characterized our long period
OF industrial democracy. 1t is well, in
deed, that there are some compensating
possibilities in the new era which seems
to be dawning, for the regret over what
we are losing is certainly very general"
We have here the allie ed dawn OF a
"new order" with its admitted loss Of in
dividuality and It's hoped for compensa-
tions. That the individual is sacrificed
in the new order" goes without saying.
The art OF making money through COM
bination has beer perfected without con-
sldering either the convenience or the
welfare of the employe. The maximum
Of service for the minimum Of wage is
the contention Of the trust. There is
no permanency Of tenure in the service
contract beyond the ability of the clerk
or laborer to work as cheaply and as ef-
ticiently as other clerks and lRborers and
to maintain colorless private views on
outside matters. Other things being
equal, non. partisan and opinionless
employe is more satisfactory part Of q
business machine than an employe
with ideas. A taste for the nobier con
Germs OF life which the Transcript halls
as relief that comes with the loss Of
hope OF business advancement is not
what the employer wants in his wage
men. The more laborer approximates
to machine, the less friction there is
in the machine, and the more money
there is for the employer. As for the
old age or the disability of the employe
in the line OF daily duty, that is o matter
for the BENEVOLENT societies and the
charity boards. An employe at the Home
stead mills was horribly burned last
spring by the accidental upsettiDg OF
some molten metal, and after his recov-
cry, being incap icitated for his old posi-.
tion, he applied for place as watchmsu,
and the Carnegie superintendent dis
missed the matter with the remark: ave
are not running hospital or employees
home" So they were not; they were
making moAey. The p9or man was thus
placed where he had abundant time to
revel in "ennobling ideals" He had
very "restful" time of it in his home with
an empty cupboard staring him out Of
counrenance.
And permit US to say that the Tran
script is not correct in declaring that we
in this country are developing "new
order" We are putting the finishing
touches upon an old one. The private
trust is the multiple Of the private bust
ness firm. Free competition is only
possible under equal conditions, and this
equality was first threatened when two
merchants joined their private fortunes
to drive a third out of the field The
trust in its essence is hoary institution
that has been living on the ruins of free
And with what RESULT
Wealth has more rights and privileges
than the men who produce it, Tsnnyson,
the official poet Of Great Britain, whose
body has just been placed in West
wrote in his prime about the
argosies Of commerce carrying on their
oonkant;ona ,,nk.l al Lo,kIo Qona n-n