Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-08-10

the country is against strikes. and
the government stands ready TO put
down such movement at the point
OF the havonct shall hereafter adj
wise all workingmcu to seek redress tv
ballot
The eAir riment Is costly one, but
ii ii has iuculcatcd this belief deep
enough to ensure peaceful methods
hereafter in the adjustment Of the
differences between capital and labor,
it cannot be said that the prospective
benefit will have been too dearly
bought. The curse Of the laboring
man has been his reliance upon the
powers OF numbers, and lie has under
the specious sophistry of demagogue.,
! imbibed false ideas Of the relative com
ditions of capital and labor.
He has been taught to believe that
capital is always grasping and that
employers are invariably heartless !;
that unless lie is constantly on the
alert against imposition, some advan-
tage will be taken OF him. He is
taught to constantly keep one foot
! raised for kick, and if the opportu-
nifty does not come for kicking for his
own rights, he is impressed with the
idea that he must, il asked, kick to
redress somebody else's grievances,
/ fancied or real.
1t seems strange that judgment
should become so warped that ready
acquiesence is given to these unjust
demands, but the object lesson OF the
day has shown how thorough has been
the response.
No walking delegate has been abroad
to counsel harmony of interest be-
tween capital and labor, the only con-
dition that would stimulate industry
and revive business. Nobody has
taught the strange doctrine that the
interests of the employer and the
employee are identical. Nobody has
shown the logical result OF harmony
and q union of capital and labor, q
hand-in.hand policy for the accom-.
plishment OF the same object, the sale
of products for price, which after
paying labor reasonable compensa-
ton, may afford an adequate profit to
the employer for the capital used in
making the results of labor available.
They have not grasped the idea that
competition would make both active
in the application of such economical
aids as might reduce cost and make
the margin of profit larger. This
would be the inevitable result of
union of interest and it would enable
the manufacturer and the labor to
reap full reward, if demand for the
increased product which would prob
ably result. could be controlled by any
known laws of adjustment.
But therein lies another danger
which requires intelligent thought
and cordial cooperation to withstand,
the evil resulting from over-production.
Demand cannot be made to meet an
indefinite expansive. The manufac-
turer cannot sell his goods, when
other capital and labor. inspirited
probably by his own success, have en-.
tered the lists and filled the market
with q product that, beyond certain
limits, is unstable. Prices are cut
until the profit is absorbed, and then
the workman is asked to reduce his
wages to enable still closer COMPETE
ton, with profit to the employer.
1t has been the custom for the laborer
to strike, as if by that means the de-
mand would be augmented or any of
the conditions changed whereby salts
factory wages may be paid after
other costs. The burden resulting
must be borne mutually, as we're the
benefits shared by high wages when
prosperity abounded.
Much may be done in the way Of
Legislation to reduce the expenses Of
living and the cost of government, but
it seems utterly impossible to do all
that labor seeks. The laws of trade,
the rules which regulate supply and
demand, are beyond the control of
statutory enactment. They are the
results OF constant change of condi.
tons and circumstances, and these in
turn are primarily influenced by other
than mortal power.
The man who conducts his business
40 as to enable him to employ the
wage-earner, must make = profit, or
he soon becomes bankrupt or is driven
from business. 1t is for the interest
of labor that he makes his profit, for
it is this ability to pay which consti-
tutes the capital for the employee as
we'll as Of the employer.
Just what Mr.. Debs means by " seek
ing redress by the ballot" therefore,
needs explanation. If he imagines
that Congress can be elected which
will make everybody rich by issue Of
fiat money, or who will fix by law the
rate of wages without regard to neces-
sity or demand for staple or other
products resultant therefrom, he will
probably find the effort about on par
with making water run up hill; but il
he confines his efforts to possible and
probable reform through the ballot
box, he will find that the means are in
q fair way of adoption for relief by the
verdict at the polls in the last national
election, an adjustment of the tariff
90 as to lower the price of necessities.
So admirably adjusted are our consti-
tutional methods against sudden and
radical changes. that we are but on
the eve of securing the benefits of the
general election held two years ago.
This policy will, when inaugurated, do
much to restore the business interests
of the country. Add to this An econ