The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-10
THE LABOR PROBLEM.

The labor problem in this State is much
easier of solution than in Europe. Here
there is plenty of work to do, but we have
not vet got ourselves in position to d 10 it.
In Europe and in some of the Eastern
States the hope of keeping their labor force
employed lies in the success Of efforts to sell
the products of their labor in other commu-
mites. Of course our comparatively simple
labor problem will soon be solved. The
anomaly Of an army of unemployed men
and women in a community that imports
the greater part of the articles in which
labor finds employment will soon disappear.
In the meantime we present the following
from an old Californian as worthy OF care
full reading:
Editor cal: Your leading article this morn
ing headed Peculiar Conditions" weighs
twenty-five ounces 10 tbs pound. and gives rise
to any number Of questions that il ought to be
profitable to discuss.
Firsi-Cartjsl and labor are here IN abund-
ance; one seeking investment. the Other employ
ment II Is big job TO reconcile the TWO. Tie
money is IN the bank. The labOring man needs It
and would gladly work for II. He is possessed
Of The qualifications and has a stomach for food
and work and APPLIES 10 the capitalist for some
thing to do. The capitalist likes The looks of
him and is inclined 10 20 into something that
would give him employment, and fually con-
Guides on setting IN factory-say OF household
furniture. The investment is made, the shop is
running; not at much profit, but every body Is
better of than they were before. There is
something to eat aud TO wear; children growing
up and going TO school. The articles iurned ont
are so much capital created, and California be-
comes that much richer.
All at once there looms up man or woman
with fine voice that knows how 10 use 1t to
agitate. He or she comes to the factory and
persuades The workmen that they are imposed
upon. At first they are surprised and do not be-
licve It. but they read certain newspapers which
say so, and so they strike. After a few hard
words and perhaps, hard knocks the factory Is
closed ana the men and women are on the streets,
holding meetings and demanding work The
same eloquent voices that were the means of
shutting up the factory are heard In the halls of
TIE city government demanding the Impossible.
Further the result Of all this The factory Is
not running but The furniture IS wanted and It
must b. paid for In the East, and The FIRE light to
bring 1t here is large item. The railroads are
eating tile life out OF the country and the press
goes for them, showing that most OF the trans
port tion people are getting all the money In The
country.
Now 1t does not need half an eve TO see that
there is something wrong here. II people could
be made 10 put their capital and labor into some
cooperative plan, where the labor should receive
lis part OF tie profits instead of wages It would
seem that a number OF important enterprises
might be started here that would WORK an meal
enlabe benefit 10 San Francisco and the State
The only other way that think of is 10 sQuelch
the agitatOT, both IN the press and out OF It.
PACIFICATOR.
San francisco, March 8.