The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-13
VI.
THE LABOR QUESTION.

There has been for many years ceaseless
discussion upon what Is called the labor
question-the conflict between the work.
ingman and the capitalist. Many ways
have been devised, some experiments have
been tried for the purpose Of solving this
question. Profit sharing would not work,
because it Is impossible to share profits
with those who are incapable of sharing
losses. Communities have been formed,
the object being to pay the expenses and
share tho profits among all the persons be-
longing to the society. For the most part
these have failed.
Others have advocated arbitration, and
whilo 1t may be that the employers could
be bound by the decision OF the arbitrators
there has been no way discovered by whi
the employees could be held by such
cision. In other words, the question
not been solved.
For my own part, see no final and sat-
isfactory solution except through the civil
lization Of employers and employed. The
question is so complicated, the ramifica-
tions are SO countless, that a solution by
law or by force seems at least improba-
Bile. Employers are supposed to pay 40
cording to their profits. They may or
may not. Profits may be destroyed by
mercy of other employers and rs much
so as his employees are at his mercy. The
employers cannot govern prices, they can
not fix demand, they cannot control sup
ply, and at present, In the world OF trade,
the laws of supply and demand, except
when interfered with by conspiracy, are In
absolute control.
Will the time arrive. and can II arrive, ex-
cept by developing the brain. except by the
aid OF intellectual light, when the purchaser
viii wish to give what a thing Is worth, when
the employer will be satisfied with O reason
able profit, when the employer will be anxious
TO give the real value for raw material, when
he will be really anxious 20 pay the laborer the
full value of his laborP Will the employer ever
become civilized enough TO know that the law
of supply and demand should not absolutely APP
ply In the labor market Of the world9 win he
ever become civilized enough not to take adj
vantage of the necessities OF the poor, OF the
hunger and rags and want Of povortyf Will he
ever become civilized enough to say. ~ will
pay the man who labors for me enough to give
him q reasonable support, enough for him to
assist In taking care OF wife and children,
enough for him TO do this and lay aside some
thing to feed and clothe him when old age
comes, TO lay aside something enough to give
him house and hearth during the December of
his life. so that he can warm his worn and
shrivelcd hands at the fire of homer"
OF course capital can do nothing without the
assistance Of labor. All there Is Of value In the
world Is the product Of labor. The laboring
man pays all the Expenses. No matter whether
taxes are laid on Injuries or on the necessaries
Of life, labor pays every cent.
Sow must remember that, day by day, la
Dor Is becoming intelligent. So believe the
employer is gradually becoming civilized.
gradually becoming kinder, and many rner
who have made largo fortunes from tho labor
of their fello, have given of their millions tc
what they regarded as objects of charity or for
Che interests Of education. This is kind OF
penance. because the men that have made this
money from the brain and muscle of their fell
low men have ever felt that 1t was not quite
their own. Many OF these employers have
sought to balance their accounts by leaving
something for universities or the establish
ment of libraries, drinking fountains or &c
build monuments 20 departed greatness. II
would have been, think far better had they
used this money 10 better the condition Of the
men who really earned IL.
SO I think that when we become civilized
great corporations will make provision foi
men who have given their lives to their serv.
ice. think the great railroads should pay
pensions to their wornout employees. They
should take caro- of them in old age. They
should not main and wear out their servants
and then discharge them and allow them 10 be
supported in poorhopses. These great COM
panies should take care OF the men they MAIN;
they have used and whose labor has been the
foundation Of their prosperity. Upon this ques-
tion public sentiment should be aroused %
such degree that these corporations would be
ashamed 10 use n human life and then throw
away the brolscn old ma, as they would cast
aside a rotten tie.
IL may be that the mechanics, tho working
men, VIII finally become intelligent enough TO
really unite 10 act In absolute concert. Could
| this be accomplished then n reasonable rate Of
| compensation could he fixed and enforced.
| Now such efforts are local and the result up
| 20 this time has been failure. But IL all could
| unto they could obtain what Is reasonable.
what is just, and thoy would have tho sympa-
| thy OF very large majority ~ their fellow
| men, provided they wero reasonable.
| But before they can act in this way they
| must become really intelligent intelligent
| enough 10 know what il reasonable and honest
| enough TO ask for no moro.
80 much has already been accomplished for
| the workingman that have hope. and great
| hope. Of the future. The hours of labor have
| been shortened, and materially shortened, in
| meny countries. There was time when men
| worked Is and 10 hours day. Now generally
| q day's work ~ not longer than 10 hours and
tho tendency IL 10 still further decrease the
| hours.
By comparing long periods Of time We more
! clearly perceive tho advance that has been
| made. Ia lsGO the average amount earned By