Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-23
THURSDAY. AUGUST %, 1894
Machinery VS. Manual Labor.


We remarked incidentally In an article
IN our last issue that 1t had been said
that II all the shoes now made by ma
chinery were required to be made by
hard. Il would require the labor OF all
che unemployed tshoemakers. we suppose
in the land TO manufacture the same
number Of pairs Of shoes. We commend
this statement to the consideration OF the
New York Journal OF Commerce. which
declares that not a day too soon has Con-
gress instructed the Bureau Of Labor 10
institute "A thorough inquiry into the great
Industrial changes incident 10 the super
seizure Of manual labor by work done by
machinery. But II II could be established
beyond a doubt that to do away win ma
chinery would be equivalent to opening
thousands OF shops wherein all the men
seeking work could find employment,
what then? Would the community con-
sent 10 unharness steam and electricity?
This is a question which Will have 20 be
considered.
our New York contemporary Is wen
qualified TO discuss all the questions in
volved in the labor problem it does not
exaggerate when 1t says that so lar as
respects manufactures. ii Is safe TO es-
innate that these new agencies have
doubled the productive capacity of pair
Of hands. and that probably the increase
Is in much higher ratio" We think
there can be no doubt that the 'produc-
tive ability Of the machinery Of to-day
is ten times as great as was the pro
ductive ability" Of the handworkers OF
n century ago. "The augmentation OF mo-
tive power has been in an immeasurabiy
higher degree whilst the gain in economy
has been almost commensurate" This
change has "revoutiOnized the worlds
markets: opened vas, new areas and popu-
lations to commerce: annihilated the fac
tors Of time and distance and risk in COM
merclal Intercourse; and increased the
worlds wealth in proportion as 1t has
made its natural resources more avail
able"
In word. the change mentioned Is the
most stuperdous leap in civilization OF
which history affords any evidence"
Who would willingly leap backwards over
that immense chasm? Nobody. Inc
statesmen Of to-day must find method
of enabling men TO accommodate them
selves TO the new order of things. On
this point the Journal of Commerce says:
THE statistlcian has not dared to at
tempt the battling task OF measuring this
change Responsible economists have not
yet ventured to say how far 1t affects the
stability or the application of orthodox
economic theories. Statesmen find them
selves in a new world 10 the gOvernance
of which their past TnaXims and policies
are very imperfectly fitted. Legislation
has to- confront new problems for which
IL has no precedents; IL hesitates, Nacii-
lates and founders. because 1t has 10
grope through new conditions without the
aid Of competent Interpreters of their
significance. Indeed. as to the economic
aspects of this industrial revolution We
ore almost totally In the dark and, over
whelmed by the magnitude of the prob
lens are passively waiting for the new
forces TO work out their economic results
In their own way.
Congress passed the other day a resolu-
ton directing the Commissioner of Labor
to report upon 1.-THE effect of the use of
machinery upon labor and the cost of pro-
meet the labor problem face to face. II
authorizes the Commissioner OF Labor, who
ought TO be expert, If there are any eX-
perts in this matter to tell the people
plainly what hurts them" 1t recognizes
the facts that 1--WE have been borne along
by the force OF this evolution At such a
rate as barely TO note the speed Of The
progress or give a thought TO its out
come. 1t has swept methods, customs.
theories, and Institutions unnoted before
It, and they are forgotten as a dream and
gone without a regret"
That the staid old Journal of Commerce
thus talns ought to suffice 10 carry con-
yiction to the minds OF even persons who
have not studied our new civilization
that stirring times are ahead of us; ana
Will encourage persons who have tried -
study II and found mo thoroughfare," to
hope that ADLER heads than theirs will be-
fore long ten us "wnat IL all means" and
how we are 10 accommodate ourselves TO
the new conditions of life which sur
round US.