The morning call., 1893-05-09
UPLIFTING LABOR.
O'Brien's Campaign Of
Education.
HE IS HERE TO WORK.
A Man Who Has Studied the Oues-
tion of United Labor and
Knows All About IL.

Oregon TO talk to the workngmen.
"The last convention of the American
Federation of Labor adopted a resolution
favOrug a campaign of education by ap-
pointing organizers, lecturers and supply
ing economic literature to affiliate organza-
ti0ns in order to widen the scope of useful
ness of The trade unions in the direction of
political action.
81 have been selected by the executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor 10 inaugurate this great work in the
mighty interests Of The working people of
the coast trusting in thei: cooperation
and sympathy for tie accomplishment of
the undertaking more than anything one
person can do, especially a non-pfofes-
sional labor advocate like myself. who
only has been heretofore a worker in the
cause. The work of organization will be
pushed with propositions for educational
facilities, lectures on economic questions,
lhe discussion OF labor questions ETC.
Nliiiam NJ. Salter of Chicago read n
paper to the delegates of the Philadelphia
convention of the American Fedora ton of
Labor. December 10, 1892. on The Value
oil Economic Conferences He smoke of
the effort of the Chicago Ethical Society
in bringing the employers and employees
Of Chicago on common platform. These
were Sunday evening lectures by class
representative men, as A. c. Cameron,
Trades Unions; Lyman T. Gage, banker,
banking and the Social System; Charles
l.. Hutchinson, president OF the Board Of
Trade, is the Board of Trade Hostile to
the Interests of the Community; Frank
lin McVeagh, merchant. Socialism as a
Remedy etc. Professor Salter said these
conferences were successful in promoting
better feeling between capitalists and
working people.
Il have no desire to enter into controversy
with any one holding a different economic
philosophy, but | DO think they stultify
themselves in saying the strike is failure
and then use trades-union methods 10 sue
cessfully secure their demands, as did the
social democracy of Belgium last month
who struck on the nth because the bill
granting universal suffrage was defeated
Overwhelmingly in the Chamber of Depu-
ties. By reason OF their organizations and
the cooperation of trades unions the
Chamber of Deputies yielded to their de-
mand IN six DAYS.
'ln EnEland during the past fifteen years
their university extension system has been
of great benefit 10 those who wish to con-
tinue education in the higher branches
after entering i'll the active business pur-
suits of life. 1t IS encouraging 10 note that
colleges of this country are also adopting
this method of extending educational
periods through middle age The working
people should endeaVor 10 follow the eX-
ample of their English brothers by form
ing clubs to procure lectures on economic
questions as well as on the aims and object
of the labor movement. When | have
opportunities to do so | will advocate an
educational campaign on these lines.
'OrganlZed labor on the Pacific Coast
saw its iow-water mark about one year
ago, aud 1t is improving fast both on the
extreme south and in the northwest. |
have been IN San Francisco but three days
and l have seen already a number of secre-
tares of unions besides attending meet
lngs and visiting executive boards, and
from this brief examination | am glad to
learn that the unions here are increasing
IN strength, notwithstanding they are bear
ing the attack of the Shipping Federation,
the brewers pool and the Employers As
s0ciaton. | have before me the circular
issued last year By this ass0ciation-it is an
evidence of a strife between capital and
labor and in conclusion it SAYS, in speak
ing Of unions: "A few gain by 1.-THE
many suffer- This is an excellent defin!-
ton OF a trust. a labor union is the an
tithesis Of this-the many gain by 1t at
the expense of no one unless ii may be
few who would compel Us to gain for them
by our toll that they spend in their pride.
Again it says Watch. your employees aud
discharge bOycOtters. Patronze bOycotted
firms
Political economists have taught that
high wages are Injurious to the interests
of the employing class, and that wages are
governed by the proportion between the
demand and supply Of labor and that
wages can only be increased in one or two
ways, either increasing capital or reducing
the number of labOrers. Professor Gun
ton thinks this doctrine an economic
hereSy aud that the income of the laborer
may be gradually increased without injury
to any other class. The object OF produc-
tlon IS cOnsumpton. Ii is the demand Of
the consumers that calls for the produc-
ton OF an article. The welfare OF the en-
ploYing class depends upon the wages or
the extent OF the consuming class. The
wages paid is the circulating capital of the
community. II the working people only
receive 8 cents per day, as in ICdia,
tho purchasing power Of the working people
would be reduced from their present share
Of so per cent OF the total 10 only per cent
of the same. Could landlords and mer-
chants live if such thing should happen?
SIN oksetacks of factories could not spring
un under such con ditiOn the same as now.
That Is the reason America is better than
any other country iD the world for the manu-
iacturer; lie has by IeasOn Of the high W ges
paid the American WOrkingmen the best
market in the world. The economic posi-
ton OF the labor question, | fear, is not yet
undeTs! oOd-when II is people will see that
capital and labor are economic allies, and
the success of the alliance depends upon
the wages and hours OF the laborer.
Il noticed the statement Of Senator
Stanford fav0ring the Chinese. Frank G.
Carpenter, in his globe-trotting lecture. in
was about $500 an hour, or $4,000 per day
nearly $4,000, OC0 4 year. l should Judge
from the Senator'S statements that he
thinks working man an enemy OF society
who seeks to raise his wages 500 per
year. lie does not seem to cumpre-
hend that every Chinaman who comes
here puts the shackles of industrial
slavery on the hands of every Caucasian
whom he throws ont of employment by his
cheaper labor. The Japanese the same.
snl- md lf-,I,t tn l.,
ments by shutting off opportunities. He
thinks the Caucasian race is not worth
preserving. for he says: L do not know
what we would do without them, and |
undertake to say that they are the most
quiet. industrious and altogether COM
mendabe class of foreigners who come
here In England there are 100000 uu-
employed, in Australia 100000. in the
United States usually about 100000 and
at the present time about 100000 in San
Francisco 5000. on the coast 10000. Under
The most favorable circumstances, accord
ing to the United States Commissioner of
Labor, Carroll d. Wright, there are 800, 600
added each year TO our population seeking
productive employment, while under favor
able conditions only 460 coo are added to
the list of employed; thus according 10 that
authority we have 10000 each year added
TO the army of tramps. not speaking of the
women and children behind them.
1T would require saving of $4,000 n
Jtdl HedIly lux lilly years 10 accumulate
the earnings of Mr.. Stanford during one
year, according to Mr. CARPENTER.
Michael Davitt recently said in speech
which has placed him in the front rank of
modern orators and statesmen, Three
modern tests Of good government that pro-
NOTED civilization the ord over were tho
housing, the food and the clothing of the
people. The trades unions are endeavor-
ing 10 bring about condition of employ
ment that will secure both to the employed
and unemployed good homes. good clothes,
good food by their methods of shortening
hours and securing good wages.
"Ihe laborers need more thorough or
gaDzatiOn and must be taught the adyan-
tage of concentrated effort, and capital
| should also endeavor to recognize the fact
that the labor question will bear an inyes
| tigation; not 10 condemn the organizations
! by reason Of the occasional strike, but OBJ
tain copies of their constitution and by
| laws and understand that the older and
ct