The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-28
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
Henry White Relieves Colonization
VIII Solve 1t.

New York, March 27.-The Peoples
Institute has started a movement for
the purpose of creating a general dis
cussion among all classes on labor
problems. One of the principal prob
lens to which attention is being called
is the question of dealing with the I'M
employed. The first lecture was held in
Cooper Union and was delivered by
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor.
Henry White was the lecturer in the
Lyceum of Carnegie Music Hall Fri
day night He is general secretary of
the United Garment Workers of Amer
lea, and represents nearly $4,000 work.
ingmen. Charles Sprague Smith. of the
Peoples Institute, presided. Mr.. White
said the problem of the unemployed is
the greatest confronting modern soci-
ETY., and has become of so threatening
a nature that it is necessary to deal
with il in summary manner.
Fifty years ago." said Mr.. White,
when labor saving machinery was yet
in it's infancy, the relations between
employer and employee were quite
friendly The functions of the en-
ployes were fraternal. But now things
are changed. and the breach between
the two classes seems to widen daily.
The rich become richer and the poor
poorer Why is this? 1t is because
there are so many unemployed in the
labor market who are forced to COM
pete with the employed, lowering wages
and spreading misery.
Trades uniOniSm is trying to root
out this evil which is menacng society
by quiet but persistent agitation. The
Improvement of the condition of the
masses cannot be brought about by a
general uprising of the working class.
The salvation of suffering humanity is
q matter of eVolution-slow, but sure.
The trades union is the most powerful
factor in this evolution.
IF the number of unemployed were
reduced gradually we should soon
reach such condition that there would
be enough for everybody and all dis
content would disappear. We have in>
Vulnerable statistics to show that if the
people have the courage to grappleWith
the question a general eight-hour day
could be established in a few years
| The evolution would be very gradual
but certain, | know it to be fact that
| if every workingman worked eight
hours a day and child labor is abOl-
| ished, every man in the country may
! have work enough to support his fam
lily decently.
Reforms could then be introduced
| which would have a reasonable chance
/ of being successful, because the people
| would then be intelligent enough tc
/ adopt them. A man working eight
/ hours a day has leisure enough to edu
/ cate himself. When the people are dull
/ and stupid. like cattle. reforms have NJ
/ effect They may be introduced by in
/ teIIigent and energetic enthusiasts. bu
the seed which is sown falls on barreI
| ground. There is no response. Thos'
| for whom the reforms are intended are
too dull to grasp their significance anC
value.
1--WE must proceed cool-headedly we
/ cannot take hold of the present system
of society and tear it up root ant
branch as the Socialists would nave u!
do. Society is a growth, and whateve
form it takes is simply matter of ev
olution You can't overturn society il
a day and displaCe it with another sys
tenn the next day. Chaos would result
II am opposed to the organizations o
the Knights of Labor and of the So
cialsts. They are of too revolutionar,
| a character.
Another evil, the tendency of whicl