The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-19
most aIwayg hold the cIose attenti0n of


 | the house.
 c. G. Clarke '95, Yale, was earnest and energetic. He was apt, however,
 to go so hurriedly in his argument as
 to leave his audience behind.
 Clement G. Clarke of Manhattan,
 Rams, the third Yale speaker, said: If labor organizations were all that
 they are claimed to be, if they were
 ideal, any affirmative statement made
 tonight might be grantedl They
 claim to strike as last resort. They | name as an essential to their organtza-
 ton conservative leadership, But as a
 matter of fact they strike without any grievance and have such leaders as Debs. The American Railway union admits that it had no grievance against
 the railways, yet it struck, I suppose as last resort. This is their conserva- tive leadership. Their very organiza-
 tion is an attitude of hostility to capi- tai and provokes strikes that would otherwise never occur. They hold themselves ready to go out on sympa- thetic strikes. This implies a readiness to break contracts themselves and to force employers to break theirs. Before the gentlemen from Harvard can find any benefit to employer or employed growing out of a recognition of associ- ations which demand breach of con- tract they have first to establish new social order and to prove that busi- ness principles are not adapted to busi- ness transactions. They make de- mands upon capital that cannot be met, The margin of profits is extremely small. Labor gets 9S per cent of the profits. If capital should abdicate every claim to any share, If labor should get it all, wages would be raised less than fifteen cents per day. The thing that is needed is more capital that labor's share may be larger.
 / What is the alternative if the asso- citations are ignored? Simply this, you deal with the individual. That Is the American, as opposed to the English system, and we are used to claiming certain prerogatives for American labor English labor is mostly organ ized. America only one-fifth. English laborers at piece work. where the price is the same as here, can make only two-thirds as much.
 This is because the less efficient workmen are made so by organiza- tions preventing exceptionally high wages to expert workmen. The indiv- idual system claims the right of doing as much work as possible and being paid accordingly. If the alternatives were accepted, then it would be no calamity. It is this very method of dealing that has made America's labor what it is, the best in the world, and it is the attempt of foreigners to es- tablish their foreign orga nizations with foreign leaders and foreign prin- cipes that is. largely responsible for the attitude of hostility arising to-day between capital and Ia bor.
 If the history of organized labor in this country teaches anything it teaches at ignoring associations when in- dividual dealing is the alternative, in- stead of being prejudiclal to the best interests of employer and employed, is the very thing most needed to increase wages still more by restoring an amica- ble relation where the labor organiza- tion has provoked hostility.
 H. A. Bull 95 the last speaker for Harvard. showed himself ready to ex- pose the weak points in his opponents arguments. He went directly to the | point and expressed himself urgently.
 At the close of the argument the judges. Prof, R. Dewey of the M. I. T., Judge Barker of the supreme court and | Bishop Lawrence, after a short consul | tation, announced their decision to be in favor of Harvard. The announce ment was received with loud cheering. |
 Subsequently a banquet was given | the speakers at the Colonial club when | speeches were made by the judges and | prominent graduates.