Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-09-27
THE LABOR QUESTION.

IIorr, Of Michigan, in a recent con-
tributation to the New York Trii.
une. expresses some bitter thoughts
Oh the labor question. Mr.. l1orr
points out the right way for a man
to rise in the world, the way that
every self made man has won his sue.
cess, and demonstrates the pernicim s
effect Of the agitator's efforts to
arraign employees against employers,
labor against capital. Capital h $
its responsibilities and SO has labor.
Arraigned against each other, il
means commercial inactivity, loss to
capital and idleness, want and pow
ertv to labor. United, each doing
its part with full justice to the other.
it means commercial activity and
prosperity for all. Mr.. l1orr says:
This modern effort to array work
ing men against employees is wicked
and disastrous in the extreme.
Both classes should always work in
harmony. Their interests are iden-
teal. The men who have denied
themselves luxuries to save n little
money, who have worked hard when
other men we're ,ounging or mt play,
aud who have ri~ked their savings
in building uIz enterprises, VIII" fur
nisl employment, do as much for
the world us the men who do the
work.
There should Fever he a feeling
among work men that they are at
liberty to shirk their work. The
man who never forgets the interest
of his employer, who is always
watchful and ready to 90, to the full
extent Of his ability. whatever he
can to advance the interests Of the
concern for which. he works, is the
man who can tot and will not be
spared from that enterprise. Faith
full devotion and honest labor ARE
generally appreciated, and should al.
ways he rewarded.
Recently l SAIL to an employee OF
Il railroad company who seemed to
be over worked. Haven't you 4
tougl, job on your hanls?' His re.
ply impressed me greatly. lie
answered: 1T is tough Just u
but man would be IL chump wle
would not accept unusual work nov
aud then for company which treat:
lis e%a,ploves as white rs this com
pany treats u.s. That man had /,
fortune before him. Watch him
He will some day he superintendent
Of that or some other railroad.
Employees have a perfect right
when there is nothing in their con
tract for bidding, to combine to
gether for mutual helpfulness
They have q right to strike single
or in concert, il not satisfied Will
their wages AMI treatment, and ther,
their rights of coercion cease
If the employers had the right tt
COMPEL employees to submit th'
question Of wages and continue,
service to mbi,rators, the employe:
would be reduced to practical slav
cry. What sane MAJ would hire t.
an individual, firm or corporation
for ore day, for six months, or 10
any length Of time, it at the expira
ton of his contract ne would b.
compelled to submit the question o
subsequent wages and s%ubsequen
employ ment 10 an enforced arbitra
ton?
Neither would any person dare t
build a factory to employ men in II
if after the termination OF his frs
contract with his employees the,
could COMPEL him to submit Il
compulsory arbitration absolutel,
the question Of future employment
If such a right We're to be conceded
to the workers Of the United States
even a family would not be safe il
hiring a cook or q coachman. III,
doctrines taught by MIR. Debs ar,
false in principle and pernicious il
their Influence even upon labor
He would gather around him tn
workingmen who have wives an,
children to support, and who ar
receiving fair wages from honorable
employers aud would ill them witt
distrust and discomfort. He woul,
urge them by conspiracy and com
pulsion to obtain an advance j,
wages. AS a result his delude,
followers would soon be wi,hou
wages and their families withou
support.
If could reach every working
man III the United States with m,
voice to-day, instead of addreSsin,
them in the language Of Mr.. Deb
and other agi,ators, | would say
"Gentlemen, if you want TO I've sue
cessful, you should find employ
4 .,~. r.sN Il. =. -. L.