The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-01-25
Labor and Capital.


Concerning the relations between
labor and capital Governor Hastings
in his inaugural address assumes that
labor should be protected. But we
are left to conjecture how these diver
gent interests can be equally favored
while the protective rate is fixed in
the ore case, bat not in the other.
He says: "The wage-earning popu.
lation of the State has beyond doubt
suffered more by reason of the indus
trial conditions just mentioned than
any other portion of our people. They
have been halted not only by reduced
wages, but in many instances by alb
sence of opportunity to earn any
wages. 1t cannot be denied that the
hand of toll applied to her native
stores of wealth has done more to
make our G Commonwealth the keystone
of the Federal arch than even her
commanding geographical position.
Pennsylvania is the distinctive indus
trial Commonwealth. Her wage earn
ers should receive fostering care in
every legislative enactment affecting
their interests. The State that per
mits large aggregations of capital to
be employed should surround the artl-
fetal person thus created with the
same restrictions, privileges and pro-
lection which it gives the individual
citizen. The laws affecting each
should be just and equitable The
burden of taxation should rest Justly
and equitably upon both, having due
regard to every privilege, advantage
and.related interest" fright here we
will remark that it does nothing OF the
kind and never will until an income
tax is collected from capital which is
at least equivalent to the occupation
tax collected from the laborer
"Neither should be target for the
demagogue nor the tool of the avari-
cious. Wise laws rigidly enforced are
indispensable to both, as we'll as to
the State. Every man has the right
to sell his labor at his own price, and
is entitled to protection in its perfor
nance. Labor has the right to ogan-
ize for mutual protection and advan
tage the same as capital but neither
labor nor capital has the right to com
bine to prevent men from working at
any price they please, no more than
capital has the right to control or per
vert the natural channels Of industry
so as to depress the price Of labor or
raise the cost of living"
''While the question of the peaceful
settlement of contentious between or.
ganized labor and organized capital is
almost as old as organized society, yet
the subject is more important and
momentous now than ever before
Recent experiences in this country
indicate that public sentiment and
matured judgment resulting from
knowledge of the facts have uniformly
been the best and most powerful ar.
biters of such disputes. But public
sentiment operates after the fact, and
| 10 ioiSiJ d PiSNCutlNC. IL llIC BCuCldl
public could be fully informed of the
facts and merits of the disputes that
bring about strikes and intractions OF
law before the parties reach belliger-
ent attitude, public sentiment would
generally guide the way to peaceful
and just settlement. The limits of
this address prevent more than a mere
suggestion upon the subject, but l
may add that, to maintain a sound
and healthy form of government, care
should be taken not only as to the
moral and intellectual development OF
the rising generation, but that the pa.
triotism and Americanism of our peo
pie should not be contaminated or
weakened by infusions of populations
not having the natural endowments,
capacities, training or desires to be-
come an honest, law abiding and use
ful part of our national economy.