The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-06
A JUDGES NIGHTMARE.

In a recent address by Judge Edmund
". Burke, Of Illinois. before a religious
gathering in that state he took occasion
TO comment on "the social effects Of the
great growth Of wealth in private hands
and in great corporations" With the
usual show OF alarm he said that storm
centers Of labor and capital are gathering
over against each other and threatening
the very integrity of the industrial frma-
ment OF man. The late appearance of the
hitherto unsupported intellectual and
physical forces but add Titans of I'M
known strength to the conflict towards
which all the world is consciously or UNI
sciously rushing"
II Judge Burke honestly believes this,
what terrible dreams he must have But
IS there really anything in that sort of
talk? is there any threatened clash to-
day between capital and labor? Is labor
dissatisfied because more factories are
at work? Is 1t dissatisfied because tho
wage Of perhaps million people have
been increased within the past thirty or
sixty days? So far as we can see there
Is a better feeling between what we call
labor and capital than there has been
for many years past Men are coming 10
a better understanding Of each other.
Capitalists and laborers are more clearly
understanding their inter-dependence
upon each other. Capitalists are more
considerable Of those working for them,
those for whom they work, because they
are beginning 70 see more clearly that
the more smoothly they can get along
together. the better 1T will be not only
for their peace of mind but for their
pockets. Capitalists are learning that 1t
paws TO employ the best labor and to pay
the highest possible price, and laborers
have learned that they are partners IN
the concern. that the more diligent they
are the more prosperous they can make
the corporation for which they work,
the greater will be the dividend, for after
all wages paid by corporations are as
dividends on the stock.
Another thing. Judge Burke talks as
though the corporations were responsible
for the terrible things which he sees in
the future on the contrary laborers are
beginning to look upon corporations as
furnishing them not only the surest and
most profitable employment, but as giving
them the opportunity TO become part
and parcel of the corporation by the
purchase of stock 1t is a perfectly sim
ple matter for laborer to become
stakeholder i'm the corporation in which
he is employed. for If he will raise the
money and put in an order with any
broker he can always pick up one share
ten shares. one hundred shares of stock
at the market price
But we believe that there is higher
view vet. We believe that the people
of this country are growing more civil
lied and more moral, not to say more
religious. every day. Take the drink
habit for example. Statistics show that
there has been a great reduction in the
number Of drunkards, but we do not need
statistics to convince us of this fact. Inc
drtlnkard is no longer tolerated. either IN
society or in business. No man wants
drunkard in his employment and no man
wants a drunkard 70 visit him IN MS
home And when we say drunkard' we
do not mean simply the man VINO Is III
the habit of getting into state OF beast
~ intoxication. We say that the young
man who makes a habit of drinking
spurious liquors at an times is not so
popular either in business or society as
the man who IS strictly temperate
Look at the churches Of the land how
they flourish. Look at our institutions
Of learning. how they flourish. Look al
the public school system, how it flour
ishes. Look at the great charitable in
stitutions OF the land how they flourish.
Nonsense. Judge Burke, men who observe |
these things laugh at your nightmares.