Evening star., 1899-03-17
CONDITIONS OF LABOR
George E. McNeill Before the Industrial
Commission.
Believes That No Strike Has Abso-
lute1y Failed - Thinks That the
Trusts VIII Destroy One Another.


The industrial commission listened to Mr..
Geo. f. McNeill of Massachusetts yester-
day afternoon on the subject of labor con-
ditions in this country. Mr.. McNeill has for
many years represented the Federal Labor
Union. No. 1913, of Massachusetts in the
Federation of Labor He is the author of
THE Labor Movement in America" and
since he was boy has been identified with
labor movements. He has passed three
score years of age, and his remembrance of
labor conditions goes back about half Gen.
tury. He began life as a shoemaker and
arose to have a national reputation a
writer industrial questions. When the
knights of Labor were organized he took a
prominent part in forming the platform of
the organization, and since 1856 has been in
active accord with labor movements. The
special wor-- of the Federal Labor Union
has been to organize unions in various
trades.
No Liberty of Contract.
Mr.. MeNeill declared that there is abso-
lutely no liberty of contract between the
employer and employe. The starving man,
he said could not have liberty in making a
contract and the labor union comes in to
give, by its influence, this liberty to en-
pioyes. The union is to the wage laborer
what the republican form of government is
to people. When the manufacturer opens
what is called free shop he really opens
slave shop, as 1t is only through the
union that the laborer really obtains free
dom to make contract.
The witness thought there was a great
deal of Misrepresentation in regard to strikes
and lOckouts There was really no such
thing as failure of a strike. In the sense
a il. pall lle.It ~, obi,
by which strikes have been brought about
there was no failure of the strike. Not
until the strike at Pittsburg in 1871 he
said, could an article be got in a magazine
IN this country treating of a strike. The
strikes, threatening property, had brought
about condition in which labor is consid-
cred as factor in business. In Fall River.
Mass, the employers would never treat
with their employees through the medium
of the union until long series of strikes
mad caused them to do so. When this Sc
RES OF strikes was followed by a reorgani-
zation of labor the employers consented to
treat with the unions That was one of the
good results of those strikes.
Against Compulsory Arbitration.
MI McNeill said the sentiment of work
lnsmen in this country is against compul-
sorry boards of arbitration. They preferred
settling their differences through confer
ehces between their own representatives
and representatives of their employers.
Fifty years ago, he said, labor worked
longer hours than today There was less
OF the aesthetic element in civilization then.
Since then the wOrkingnan has won re-
spect by respecting himself and the stand
he has taken This referred to organized
iapor' Ills persistence for reforms has won
respect OF men whose respect is worth anv-
thing. The condition of labor had thus ad-
Nanced and its social condition had been
upHfted- Organization of labor resulted in
hlSher wages, Just as organized society re-
nf thA
1t. The offensive drunkenness of fifty years
ago was greater than today. drunken
man means Il low-wage man. Drunkenness
mad been diminished and wages increased
through the efforts of organized labor
Il believe said Mr. McNeiil that wo-
man Is not qualified for wage labor. She is
competing with the man who is her hus-
band or father or who is TO become her
husband. She will get as much as man for
her labor when the mans wages are brought
down to the level of the wOman's | do not
mean that woman Is not qualified for labor
but that she is not qualified for wage Iabor
whoever undertakes 10 deal with the Xo-
man question must deal with her as a CO.
operator. Opportunity must be given her
Ior artistic work which will not require her
To work when she is not fitted to do so.
But she is not fitted TO be q wage worker
in factory"
Mr.. MCNEIL said he was not believer in
the wage system. As soon as profits on la
Dor are brought to a minimum by the in
crease of wages the condition would be
favorable for complete cooperation between
me employer and employe. When that con-
dltion came about the employers would nro-
pose that they divide profits on some euIIi-
table basis and then cooperation would he
realized He said the cigarmakers are to-
day able to control the output in their trade
Ihey could organize cooperative factories
and drive out every private manufacturer
of cigars. This power was brought about
through their organization and financial
system.
Practically he said the carna ccrditio,, ~.
lSted among the window glass Workmen and
to large extent 1t was true of the men
manufacturing tacks. This cooperation
was not brought about because the cigar
makers were not experienced in the conduct
of great enterprises. but the trust of toda y
Is teaching them these things
Mr. Mcneil said the trusts would destroy
one another In time as the barons of old
destroyed one another. As their great in
crease5 of capital make it necessary for
them TO invade each others territory in
seeking investment they would begin to
fght and to destroy one another Asst the
Standard OIL Company invests its profits in
street railway companies it excites the Jeal-
ousy of this latter interest.
Good Results From the COMMISSIONS
work.
Mr.. Mcneil said he anticipated a great
deal of good from the work of the indus
trial commission. 1t would bring to the at
tention of the people the conditions OF
workmen and would educate them along
those lines
He favored particularly one piece of leg
islation TO advance the condition of work
lngmen, and that was in the interest of the
eight-hour day. He would enact a law pro-
y:ding that every patent issued in the
future could be used only in connection
with an eight-hour day. So that n cotton
factory. to make use of future improve
ments in invention. would have to intro