The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-27
ChPIThL IS.WARLIKE
HENRY ID. LLOYD TALKS ON IN.
DUSTRIAL TOPICS.
Chicago. He Says, Is the Storm
Center of the Dispute.
Its Business Men Are the Most Ra.
deal in the Attempt to Break
Up Labor Organizations.

Henry D. Lloyd, of Chicago, is pay
ng brief visit to Bo ston and is the
guest of Edwin D. Mead, at the lat
ter's home on Newbusy street.
AS the readers Of "Wealth Against
Commonwealth" are aware Mr.. Lloyd
takes no despairing vie w of the future.
but believes that in the midst of the
evils which now afflict society may be
found evidences of regenerating
agency which is to set things Alright.
1T is apparent to me-" said Mr.
Lloyd to a cores pondent of the Chica-
go Times, in reply to question con-
corning the significance of the recent
victories of capitol over labor, "that
corporate wealth is assuming pro-
gressvely aggressive position. 1t is
perfectly evident that the working
men have no chance whatever in their
struggle against aggregated wealth.
This is shown in their submission to
the tremendous reductions in wages
recently made at Homestead result
ing in some cases, it is claimed, to
cutting down to so cents day.
THE Carnegie company claims that
with the improved machinery intro
duced the low rate per piece now Of
fered Will enable the workingmen to
make as much as heretofore This
claim illustrates the present position
OF capitol the very breath and gospel
Of which is that it must all the time
be increasing its gains, while the
workingman man may thank God if
he continues to make what he has
been making.
LABOR AND WAGES.
When labor demands higher wages
all the organs of utterance on the side
of the well-tOdo class are full of in
dignation at a step which prevents
the operation Of industry. Yet these
same people spend all their lives in
seeking to increase their incomes and
to amass more and more wealth until
they are financially able to retire from
business.
"Chcago is at present the storm CEN
ter. There the business men are the
most radical that we have. They are
apparently taking the lead in endeav-
oring to break up the organization of
labor. 1t is with them purely bust
ness proposition. They are, as rule,
amiable and generous men. But or
ganizatiOn is the bulwark of labOr,an
as the largest single item in their
tinanceering is the pay roll it is for
them very elementary business prop
OStion that the reduction of wages
must be accomplished through the
breaking down of the labor organiza-
tions.
1.-The recent decisions of the courts
are but the expressions, in legal phra-
seology, OF the philosophy of the bust
ness men. These decisions seem, on
their face, to be aimed against vio-
lence, but their logic is that violence
is the necessary result of a strike:
therefore any man who engages in a
strike intends whatever violence may
result, however remotely, from the
strike. Hence any leader Of any trade
union~iS civilly and criminally liable
for any act of violence which can be
ascribed to the strike.
John Stuart Mill has declared that
the strike is an absolutely indispensa-
BILE means OF maintaining the econ
omlc rights of wOrkingmen. but under
the theory now being preached a strike
becomes practically imposSib BILE Wheth-
er the leaders advise against violence
or the labor organization instruct
against it, if some fool or criminal or
subsidized deGective-for such thing
is vable-commit an act of vio-
lence the full penalty may be visited
back upon every member Of the union
III tue capitol in interest take the
precautiOn to get judge to issue a
blanket injunction in advance charges
of crime may be tried without Jury
and punished at the pleasure of the
judge, who thereby creates the crime,
practically conducts the prosecution,
defines his own jurisdiction, acts as
judge and jury in one, and determines
the punishment without appeal.
RECENT DECISIONS IRRITATING.
"These recent events and decisions
of the courts have filled the working
men with apprehe tensions and irrita-
bility. But their most striking effect
is the spread of radicaliSm among the
middle class. The movement of trusts
and monopolies may be defined as
movement against the middle class.
NiS VIM ucSu w w Us VI
manufacturers are now lucky if they
are permitted to remain in business as
the feudal retanerS of greater DOW
er. Many of those not retained are
turned adrift. They can not re-en-
gage in their old business and very
often are compelled to become clerks
for others. Frequently high-priced
confidential clerks and other employees
of the same class are thrown out en-
tirely. The tendency of this is newt
ably to reduce the middle class down
to the level of the working class.
"The conservatism of the working
men is wonderful. With a vastly pre-
ponderant influence in the production
of wealth, and entitled under any
creed of democracy to'a full share in
its advantages, they are content to ask
such little things as an eight-hour day,
slight increase in wages, Somewhat
better sanitary arrangements, the
proper protection of machinery, and
some employers liability for mutila-
ton or death. 1T is amazing that the
working people are not more radical
than they are. The whole theory of
trades unionism is that the workers
are willing to remain wage takers and
only ask little improvement in their
condition. Nothing better shows how
bourbon-lke our business men are
than their rejection Of these moderate
demands. They have themselves to
thank for making the workingman de-
mond tho imnOSSihle Thev invite the