The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-01-20
MANKATo FREE PRESS.
FRIDAY, JANUARY &c, 1892.
MR.. FIELDS PLAN.

cares to speculate upon the posSlblll-
ties of bringing about peaceful and
final settlement between capital and
labor In a recent magazine article
David Dudley Field writing upon
the subject asks the question if we
are nearer reconciliation between
capital and labor than we were a de-
cade ago, and anwers it by stating
that there is now greater display of
antagonism than at that time. This
he does not believe is because the
problem is unsolyable, but is largely
because of the workmen themselves
in 'resorting to violence. Men, he
says, are continually improving in in
telligence, and we ought to be nearer
instead of farther from a solution Of
the question.
Mr.. Field is believer in industrial
corporations, and is of the opinion
that in this direction only lies the
solving of the veXed problem. In the
first place he thinks that workmen
should learn the lesson that they can
not succeed against the wishes of the
rest Of the people, and that the peo-
pie are against acts of violence. And
in the second place, he believes that
matter must be settled between the
employer and the employed.
His remedy, as already stated, is
through industrial cooperation. He
would form corporations with shares
of S. each. The earnings of the capt.
tai invested he would divide among
the workmen, at the highest rate for
skilled and unskilled labor After
deducting certain amount for his
supplies, including food, clothing,
lodging etc, he would have him cred
tied with the remaitder due, and is
sue therefor shares Of stock. This
would make the labOrer stakeholder
in the institution and increase his in
terest in its welfare. Each year he
would keep acquiring additional
shares in the business, and thus would
his interest in its welfare grow. AS
to its management he says: 1.-The
rate of wages, the supplies furnish
ed, the admission and dismissal of
share workers and the discipline OF
the establishment should be vested
in all the shareholders, actual or eX-
pectant, while the financial depart
ment and the purchases and sales,
should be in the hands Of the cash or
property holders" This scheme he
does not believe to be an idle dream,
as something like it has been tried in
other countries with success. COntin-
uing, he says: "The one objection l
have heard made to such scheme is,
that the Share-worker will have to
run the risk of losses. That, howev
er, is only what the share-capitalist
has to meet, and if the workman is as
well off as the capitalist, there will be
small reason to complain. 1t might
be stipulated, however, that the work
man should in any event retain the
portion of his wages set apart for his
living, or he might insure his share to
greater or less extent paying there
for premium not greater than he
now pays to his union or other society
of workmen.''
Another objection he says that has
been urged against the scheme is, that
it would benefit only skilled work
men, those whose wages would natu
rally exceed their cost of living That
would depend, Of course, upon the
price of the unSkilled workman'S, la
Dor. At all events the scheme would
benefit the skilled workman and thus
create an incentive to the unskilled
to perfect himself in his art"
Whether the plan that Mr.. Field
suggests would prove success
or not, would Of course depend to a
large extent upon the workmen them
selves. But whether this is the path
or not that leads to the solving of the
problem, it will doubtless be tried to
greater or less extent in the future.
In fact MI. POWderly is now at work
in bringing about somewhat similar
scheme for the establishment of fac
tories on the cooperative plan and for
that purpose has purchased tract of
land near Washington The outcome
OF his venture will be watched with
interest and should it prove success
full, will doubtless give an impetus to
the cooperative plan.
Certain it is that force will never
settle the difficulty, and the sooner it
is dropped and peaceful methods
adopted the better for all concerned
as well as for the public at large.
A I,