Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-06
held by numerous persons is not duly consid-


cred.
The tendency has been and is strongly to
combination in many branches OF business.
This is true in transportation. manufacturing
banking and in all lines of promotion and dis
tribution of commodities. 1t is a recognized
fact that competition has been very largely dis
placed by combination. Comprehending this
and seeing that there is a vast disparity in the
possession OF wealth the working people Of
the country have adopted the plan of meeting
combination with combination or, in other
words by forming labor organizations As trans
porta;ion by rail ard manufacturing as now
carried on require the services of large numbers
OF men organization Is practicable. The same
is true only 10 II less extent in the building and
some other trades. The object of these organ
! izations is 10 compel capital to concede to
labor what it deserves Such an object is
proper and praiseworthy il the measures re-
sorted to are defensible. To arouse labor SO
that 1t will assert Its rights demagogues and
mountebanks are in the habit Of SO as sailing
capital as to create feeling Of intense hostil-
ity. Labor and capital are natural antagonisms
because their interests collide. The relations
of the employer ard employe are like those of
the seller and tine buyer. Low wages are
best for one and high wages best for the
other. To produce successfully requires both
labor and capital. and each should be fairly re-
warded. III capital Is exacting and oppressive
labor organizations sometimes make mistakes,
some of which are Of the most grievous char
acter.
One of them is in supposng public sympathy
is not strongly on the side Of wage workers.
Many ameliorations have been voluntarily
granted.
Not very far in the past men were imprisoned
for debt. That barbarous law has been dis
placed by one that exempts the homestead, GER
tain household goods and implements necessary
to the earning of a livelihood from seizure and
sale to satisfy private debt. Schools are
tablished supported by public tax at which all
children educated free of charge. Indrma-
ries and hospitals are provided for the poor and
the sick. A sentiment is growing which favors
the exemption of hOmesteads of limited value
and some otaer property from taxation, and in
favor OF graduated income and inheritance
taxes, which will tighten the burdens of those
who live by toll, and impose them in accord
ance with ability to bear them.
Another ana most grievouS mistake has been
made in the matter of strikes. They have often
been attended with mob violence and ncendi-
arism. Destruction of property and interruption
| Of business do no one any good, and result i'll
calamity to the public. Strikes are defensible
only to the extent of cessation of work when
! terms unsatisfactory: but to interfere with
others who wish to work the terms offered,
by violence intimidation. is a crime. for there
Is no difference in principle in destroying
mans property than in preventing him from
earning property. To ignore contracts as to
term other condition of service is both
unlawful and dishonorable. whether by employer
or employee. Still another error is in making
an Interchangeable scale of wages, one that is nom
reducble. Conditions are not always the same.
This year the volume and character OF the
traffic the prices of products may be such
that the railroad the manufacturer is
able to make fair profit. but next year
conditions may be reversed, and at the
sane scale of wages there will be no
profit, perhaps loss. Labor organiZa-
| lions should have men whose business is
to gain knowledge of all the facts and
circumstances they arise, that wages may be
SO regulated that labor and capital will each re-
ceive its fair share of the results of the business
| One fact especially is not always duly consid-
cred. and this is that capital. under the laws as
/ they now are. takes all the hazards OF loss and
/ the laborer takes none. The law gives him a
! first lien on the property of his employer.
{ 1t is unfortunate that In many enterprises
classification of labor Is necessity. growing
out of the employment of large numbers who
have classified services to perform. Men are
/ unequallv endowed by nature and it is pre-
/ sumable that ii Is the intention of the Creator
! that each should receive the full benefit of his
! legitimate efforts. The time when the
working man had status and received wages
/ according to his merits. As it now is. In many
kinds of work. where classification is necessary,
| the weakling. the dull and the shirk receive
much as the strong, bright and faithful. the
employer il bound to take the lot at the same
! wages. which takes from the deserving for the
! benefit of the undeserving. Probably for this
/ there is no remedy. 1t is one Of the evils that
result from associated labor. 1t would be well
| If there could be competition in labor and in
/ everything else. To assure to all tine full
benefits of their efforts is tremendous stimu-
I liant to eXcrUor.
| There should be no animosity between capital
/ and labor. and there need be none if their rela-
/ lions and interests are intelligently and justly
considered on both sides. Capital should not
/ be eXorbitant. and labor should exact only what
is its due. The principle must be recognized that
all are free to join labor organizations or not
; they choose. There should be no compusion. The
mass Of the American people are IN sympathy
with the wage workers. Their sympathies
! have sometimes been estranged bv the excuses
/ which have attended strikes and the destructive
teachings and conduct of of the labor
| leaders. There Is no country in the world
where economic policies have been based SO
completely upon the idea of promoting the well
fare of the labO-ing classes as in the United
States, for the last thirty years. and no laboring
! population in the world receive wages COM
/ pensatory or are possessed Of such advantages
and comfortable surroundings.
This is republic in which all men are free
and protected in their rights and are rewarded
as their efforts deserve. The principles under
/ which this country has existed for more than
/ a century have secured the general prosperity
| and happiness of the people. 1t is but neces-
! sary to look at conditions they have been
and are to see that no one is forlorn and
desperate except through fault of his own.
| This free country promises commensu-
| rate rewards to natural endowments when
| properly exercised and when results are provi-
IDENTIFY husbanded. 1t is prevalent principle
that merit is justly recognized. and though
republic. the people are not ungra:eful except
in the opinion of the deInagogue and worthless.
| Organizations and associations are useful when
! they operate upon lust and common-sense prin-
cples. 1t behooves the wage workers to take
care not to establish an absolutiou over them
selves. for lit may become contagion and end
in founding a despotic government" Free in
, stitutions can only be maintained by preserving
| individual independence. 1t must not be for
gotten that the first and highest duty of gov
| eminent Is to preserve the public peace and
protect life and property. And because this is
done it should not be assumed that government
is inimical to the working people.