The times., 1899-07-17
TRUSTS POINT THE WAY
The Day Coming When Only One
Combination Will Exist.
The Rev. Alexander Rents Idea Is
of Monopoly of Production and
Distribution Controlled for and by
the People - Then Lnbor-SnviEG
Machinery VIII Be n blessing.

pies Church, yesterday morning. The
speaker did not propose, he said, to dis
cuss the issue between those who affirm
and those who deny the labor making Tin
stead of the labor -saving) character Of
machinery. He was willing to take the
concessions of those who took the most
favorable view of the present benefits, and
show that they fall very far short of what
is possible, and what the equities of the
case require, so far as the people are con-
cerned.
He quoted the present Commissioners of
Labor in support of this view, though plac-
ing him among those who regard machinery
on the whole as a great blessing 10 the
toiler. One of the concessions made by
the Commissioner to which the speaker
attached much importance, was to the ef-
feet that the depressions with which the
present generation is familiar belong 10
the present age of invention and organized
industry" whether necessary concommit-
ants of the present industrial regime or
not, they certainly came with it, and must
pass away when 'out of the present status
OF Industrial forces there shall be evolved
a grander Industrial system. system
which must be as much grander than the
present as the present is grander than
that out of which il was evolved.
This is a clear concession that, how
ever superior the present regime may be
to that cut of which it grew, it is not
ideal. or final; that vastly better things
are in store for the world, through the
wiser, iuster more humane use of these
mighty agents of production which science
and invention have put in our hands. IN
the opinion OF John Stuart Mill, said the
speaker, it was questionable if all the
mechanical inventions yet made have llgnt-
ened the days toll of any human being.
Without going so far as to endorse TINS
view. it is undoubtedly safe to say, and
to say with all possible emphasis, that they
have not lightened the burdens OF the
masses in any adequate degree
The speaker. however, desired his hear
ers to consider with him. some of the
benefits which, confessedly,. machinery
has conferred, that we may see more
clearly what 1t might be made to do were
it once put continually at work in the
common interest. He made the following
points:
First. machinery has immensely aug
mented the power of production and dis
tribution. enabling one man TO do the work
sometimes OF two, sometimes OF a
hundred This proposition was sustain
ed by statistics from the various indus
tries showing that the powers of produc-
tion and distribution had been increased
five, ten, fifty, and even one hundred fold.
This Substitution of machinery involy-
ed, it was admitted, an enormous displace-
ment of human labor and for the time at
least, vast amount of suffering, priya-
tion. and misery. If there were nothing
TO offset this showing so to so per cent of
cur population would be constantly out OF
employment. But there are some COM
pensations:
First machinery which causes large
economy in the labor forces cheapens the
product. extends the market beyond our
own country, and increases the demand.
Often business is so enlarged through this
increased demand that few if any of the
men employed have 10 be discharged. Then
again. new establishments spring up when
such demand is created and men discharg-
ed at one point are taken on at another.
Second, the making Of this labor saving
machinery, and the making of machinery
TO make machinery, all this requires q
portion of the labor which the machines
in their several departments displace.
Hence the damage wrought TO the laboring
class through the introduction Of machin-
cry, and the displacement of labor, while
! always very great, is also always less SER
ious. and is attended by more circum-
] GullSlalCSS Ol d CUiNptusdliH6 SAai oStSA
! than the parties Immediately affected are
able, usually. TO see.
Again, invention is constantly opening
new avenues Of employment which absorb
some of the workers. True, the number OF
persons who are thus fortunate. according
TO the last census, constitute but very
small fraction of those whom machinery
has forced out The total number of per-
sons employed in these new callings. such
aFR-rftf tfFaor oil s4tllls
photography, etc. was. in 1890. only 2iI,-
600: while agricultural machinery alone Is
| estimated to have taken the place of 4.
| 430. coo men. However, it is imaginable
! that in the majority OF cases machinery
! has not really driven the men from the
| farm, but rather brought something of re-
| lief to the farmers and their sons. OF
/ course the ccmpensations mentioned are not
| permanent nor ethical. Conditions favor
ing the toiIer in America may leave him
idle in England, and as other people be-
come machine-esing nations, We shall lose
cur markets and be forced to find some
way of adjusting this question of produC-
tion and distribution among ourselves
! Still this does not alter the fact with
which we are now Immediately concerned
that machinery has increased our produc-
tive and distributiye power, five, ten, and
! even an hundred fold.
| quickened the mental and moral develop
ment Of the masses. The factory system
with all its defects, is a great improve
/ ment on the sweat shop system. Condi-
! tions are better, more favorable to health
character. and discipline. The notion that
| tending a machine makes men dull through
| its sameness and monotony is not borne
out by the fact. The fact that men are
brought together and thrown into social
| Intercourse where mind rubs against mind
more than offsets any tendency that may
| exist in want of variety in work. Maids Of
| all work and jacks at all trades have
great variety Of employment, but they are
not the brightest Of people usually. Me
! chanics are mentally and morally superior
TO ether wage workers. They are at the
! front in all matters OF labor REFORM
The machine relieves men largely from
the constantean wearing bodily excrtlor
| Involved in hand work. and leaves then
| with a good stosk Of vitality whom tht
days task Is ended. Hence mechanics nr,
| fond Of meetings. discussions. and are A.
tive In all movements FOR shorter hours
higher wages. better schools. and In nj
these matters the wide aHake. agiiatinj
class has been Of great service 80 the Tod,
of wage workers. without these effort
wage workers today would be getting bu
bare subsistence.
Again, machinery has benefited III
masses through the more interesting am
educative environment it has given them
II Is 4 shame indeed that the honest an
earnest toiler can look at many of thes
things which his own labor has create,
only from the distance. nevertheless, the,
help to educate him, and out OF the large
manhood which all the elements of tn
conflict help to develop Will one day b.