The record-union., 1897-07-12
NOT A PARTISAN QUESTION.

The Review of Reviews for July in
discussing the Right to Work. ques
ton, well says that the inequality of con-
citton between the very rich man and
the ordinary citizen who has the oppor-
tunity to work steadily for standard
pay, is a matter of slight concern, COM
paratively speaking. THE seriously
disturbing factor is the existence of a
shifting but never disappearing element
of men unemployed or but half en-
ployed.'
That this is a truth no careful OBJ
server Of conditions and activities can
deny. The greatest problem of the age
is not the monetary question, but that
larger one, the furnishing of opportun-
ity for all men who want to work and
ought to work, but cannot secure en-
ployment. 1t is perfectly true, as the
Review" says, that Notwithstanding
the distress of the great army of work.
ers in the clothing trade on the east side
of New York, lately involved in a great
strike, while they worked incredible
hours for a beggarly pittance. they were,
or most of them, better off than in their
Polish homes over the waters and their
children are vastly better off under
American conditions. The Review"
believes that it is only a matter of time
when these conditions will be still more
improved. and there VIII be better wages
and easier hours. But what more con-
Germs the American people is the larger
body of men Gin more highly developed
trades who are the victims of intermit-
tent industrial activity living under the
constant dread of the closing down of
mill or factory. 1t is unquestionable
that the complaint Of instability by
these constitutes the most serious ques-
tion for the American people to-day.
and that it gives to the demand for State
labor supply, based upon the resources
of all citizens of the country, force and
momentum to which we cannot remain
insensible. That demand is not one that
is likely to be conceded, nor is it one
want in America.
A solution must be had and we believe
will be found for this difficulty, and that
out of the unrest and discomfort of the
the need, means that all thoughtful men
and well wishers of their kind must hope
for. But we do not believe that this ac-
complishment is to be had through the
taking of any of the political nostrums
that patent monetary reform fantasies
offer as specifics. The betterment that
is to give US stability in industrial walks
is not likely to flow from adoption of
the ideas of financial theorists who
would upset what we have and give US
more experiment in its place.
We need fiXity of the tariff and settle
ment of the monetary questions Also
upon a practical basis backed by ex-
perience. Above all We need to stop the
immigration of foreign workers, both
skilled and unskilled to this country
We need that protection, and those
guards thrown about American indus
tries that will prevent them being the
shuttlecock of foreign competition and
shifting vain legislation that aims to
better the worker condition by render
ing timorous and cowardly the capital
necessary to the forwarding of all great
industrial enterprises.
There must prevail the assurance of
Justice alike to the wage-earner and the
employer Confidence is the greatest
present need and to the destruction of
that essential there appears to be a
class of agitators devoting their best
energies, evidently determined that the
country shall be kept in a state of dis
trust and unrest with the single alterna-
tive of accepting their particular and
patent cure alls. In short, there is too
much of partisan politics forced into the
question of the needs of labor.
The Emperor of Germany has made
up his mind to rule absolutely and
without any interference or counsel on
the part of anyone he does not invite