The times., 1897-09-27

The most sanguine advocate Of reform
measures should not expect or hope for
many decades TO abolish competition. 1t
is true that by removing certain features
OF competition which unquestionahly de
yelop the more selfish tendencies, we would
promote the expansion OF mans higher
qualities
But in the highest state OF social per
fection man is capable OF attaining dur
ing many generations TO come, the mere
sense OF moral obligation VIII not suffice
10 ind Gce him 10 complete his daily task
with the same punctiliousneSs as that inn
petus which arises from a necessity to
exercise diligence, ability and frugalty
in order to derive a livelihood, deserve
promotion and increased compensation and
retain respectable standing among his fell
-workmen.
Il believe there / $ innate in the human
heart the qualities and attributes which
are daily asserting themselves in higher
strata of life, the conception OF better,
nobler ideals, and that by the influences
OF education and constantly improving en-
yironment their supremacy VIII be brought
about; but the processes Of transforna-
tion, in commercial conditions as We'll as
social and political, are necessarily de-
liberate, and any measures resorted To for
improving the former should be remedial
ana not revolutionary in character those
which will benefit the greatest number
Observation-Disclosures to established interests
seldom have the working men and
women il America stood so much in need
of united effort for relief from the wide
~rread safferug and want, due TO the
enforced idleness which has been so gen
eral throughout tie country, although in
a slightly less derIoe for the present time,
and roI the future, 1 Lure, as compared
with tho period OF depression from which
tie country a. now making an heroic
effort to recover.
1t may be thought by some that the
recent legislation iH the interest of home
industries VIII bring To the workingmen
aud wcnlen the universal relief they have
so long sought. II is not my province to
! discass this featuIe OF the industrial prob
leu, except, perhaps, TO call attention To
the diversity Of opinion which has always
| obtained on the subject
THE past twenty years have demon
strated the possibilities Of organized
capital. The consolidation Of corporate and
even mercantile interests is becoming more
general, and the great labor centers have
Becomr more and more Congegted in cunse-
quence. The immutable law governing the
relat tiUns between these two great factors
il that whenever capital leaves its legiti
mate channels Uf industrial development
and seeks, 10y combina ton of interests, TO
iHcreas. the percentage of its earnings, its
interests become dIametrically opposed 10
( those Of labor, and its high office as the
benefactgr Of labor ih accordingly restrict
ed and diminished.
'SuperabpCAuCe OF supply over demand
and paGpcT co.apetition are also economic
factors which VIII always exert an in
flueEce - bring about, in a greater or
! less degree, congestion OF labor in large
cities
Tine measure woad present is not
/ designed TO furnish merely a temporary
! eXpediant, out offers q permanent medium
4 for allayiug the distress due to the re
s,rictign ol employment, which, even under
favoring tariff, viii always exist to a
considerable extent in coHgested labor
/ cenUers.
Moreover, during period Of approach
ing prosperity is the most auspicious time
! for putting into operation a comprehen-
sive plan Of relief, uasmuch as the Con-
diuIo0s would render possible the adoption
OF a conservative policy OF cautious, pro-
grcssive mana cement in degree not at
taiuanlG' under conditions Of extreme husi-
ness depr-s sion
"A distinctive feature of the plan, and
one / wish particularly to emphasize, is
that itsinauguration and maintenance may
be accomplished independently Of wealth.
The great middle classes, who have all
the power there is, Speaking in the broad
I4--
this | DO not mean TO imply that it would
antagouize the interests of wealth. 1t is
not by setting poor against rich, or by
hardening the heart of the rich against
the poor, that We are to succeed; 1t is
by independence and acknowledge.
The one fact that l would impress
upon all yotaries of labor reform, which
should ever be kept uppeuuost i'll mind,
is that labor and capital are essentially
| interdcpendent, and no movement can be
permanently prosperous which does not
consult the maintenance of the mutually
of interest between both.
"In the combined forces of Drawn, en-
erGy, skill alrd capital of the workingmen
ana workw omen Of this country, does there
exist the latent possibilities for an organiza-
ton winch in scope and potency shall sur
dertaken.
An organization upon whose broad prin
ciples all persons, poor or rich, humble or
exalted, OF whatsoever political or religious
predictions or vocation, may unite in one
grand effort to lay the foundatiO of u
system whereby a large number OF the
great army OF worthy unemployed may
be rendered self sustaining; an Organization
which shall stand as a bulwark a gainst
oppression, d refuge in periods of great
distress, and an available medium of as
sistance in emergency: an organization
which shall seek not to divorce labor and
capital, but to cement more closely the
ties which unite them in a common in
tereSt and by eleyating the standard and
dignity Of labor, secure for it more
Just aud equitable recognition at the hands
of CAPITALIZED interests.
while the plan is a very comprehensive
one, have an abiding faith that the in
domitable ccnrage and determination of
the American people can and viii accom-
pliSh anything in the cause of humanity:
for those who are f'llbued with these es-
sentiai elements to the performance Of
an important undertaking have already
fortified themselves with a power which
is potent against obstruction.
we should not permit ID contempla-
ton Of the difficulties which may PIE
sent themselves to obscure from our view
the manifold benefits which Will accrue
the unemployed, through a comprehensive