The Irish standard., 1897-09-18

distributed, amount to less than So
apiece for the G0,OOO,OOO but il the 1O,-
100000 secure an advantage of 100000
600 over the other 100000 900 it amounts
to $40 apiece for those securing it. In the
first instance the 10000 900 would each
receive so small sum as to make the
contest Improbable. while the 10000 900
would each suffer so much loss as to
Justify strong resistance. In the second
intance the 100000 would each receive
enough to stimulate the contest while
the 10000 900 would each suffer SO little
as to make resistance less energetic.
Thus it is that the few are able to OBJ
tain great advantages at the expense of
the many, because the advantage divid-
ed among the few is considerable. while
the individual loss suffered by the many
is often so small as to escape attention.
The masses, therefore. instead of trying
to get their hand into other peoples
pockets, have sufficient reason for re-
joicing If they can succeed in keeping
other peoples hands out OF their pock-
cts"
/ want to say to you. my friends that
you cannot Ovelpstimatc the influence
Of labor organizations In teaching tho
people to think upon the great questions
of government. ! believe in our form
of government | believe that it is the
best form of government ever devised
it is perfect in all its methods; best,
not because II is perfect In all its do
tails, but best because under ii the
American people can secure as good
government as the American people de-
serve to have. But, in order to secure
good government the people themselves
must be alert to their responsibilities
as citizens; to secure the good govern
mcnt the people must understand the
questions presented to them, and organ
lied labor has done as much II not more
than any other influence among us to
bring the people face to face with the
great economic questions which con-
front our people, questions upon whose
proper solution must rest the welfare
of our people.
Labor organizations have been large
ly, In fact. almost entirely, responsible
for the fact that in skilled labor wages
have not fallen as much as prices, al
though, while keeping up the rate OF
wages. they have not always succeeded
in keeping employment up to full time.
While giving to these organizations
credit for what they have done, 1t Is
only fair to suggest hat neither labor
organizations nor any other form OF pro-
lection can secure to labor permanent
immunity If the general level of prices
continues to fall The idle man is the
menace to the man who has employ
mcnt, and the number of idle men must
necessarily increase if we have II money
system which constantly raises the val
ne of the dollar and constantly lowers
the market value of The products of la
Dor.
Now my friends, that is all that l
want to say on the subject upon which
! like to talk mOst-thc money question.
] don't expect to elaborate on the sub
jcct, because while the lahoring men are
! concerned In the proper settlement of
the question, whether ii be in my way
or in some other way. their interests are
identified with the interests of the great
masses of the people, and merely call
| |, ,I,,,, l,n s,,l,
jcct because | want to say to yOn, my
friends, that II is my candid conviction
that under All era Of falling prices there
! is no possible way Of preventing the evil
influence from reaching all classes OF
the community who are engaged in the
production of wealth, and in this way
your interests arc tied to- the interests
of the rest of the people.
Arbitration OF differences between
large corporate employees and their en-
ploycrs is one of the political reforms
most needed by wage carncrs hrbitra-
tiOn in such matters is merely an cxtcn-
sion of the principles which undcrlic the
court of Justice, and the extension is de-
mandcd by the new conditions which
| have arisen within the last quarter of Il
| century. In former times, when one in
! dividual employed but a few men, per-
sonal acquaintance and the influence
! which surrounds personal acqllaIntanccs
controlled both the employer and the
employed; but now great corporations,
employing large numbers Of men, are
crOwding the small business man out OF
I the field Personal acquaintance and
! contact between employer and cmploye
as well as mutual sympathy, are now
reduced to the minimum, and the law
/ must now supply that element of justice
/ which personal relations formerly So
cured.
! Arbitration is supported by reasons
! other than those arising from the inter
! csts of employer and cmpluye. Society
| is concerned in the Just, speedy and
+ pcnccablc settlement of all controversies
/ between labor and capital Until arbi-
! tratiOn is secured, the strike is the only
weapon within the reach of labor; and
i the strike not only entails loss upon
beth Sides but for the time being inter
/ Pnr,c w;+b Iuoipnuc and rnmmprcp IF