Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-11-01
LABOR coMPETEs wITHITsELP
The So-Cailed Trusts Are sympiy Method
Whereby Capitalists Avoid Competi-
tion With Each Other.

It is the law that the smelter laborer
shall have full liberty to engage to
work as many hours as he pleases for
as small a wage as he shall consent to
accept. It is the law that the smelter
trust shall have liberty to compel its
men to work as many hours, and for as
small wages, as it can make them ac-
cept. 1t is the law that there shall be
perfect freedom on both sides to barter
for the sale of labor and for its pur-
chase. Neither as health measure,
under the general police power, nor
for any other reason, has the legisla-
ture authority to interfere with the
terms of agreement between employer
or employe in this OF any other class Of
industry.
That is the law in Colorado, but is 1t
the best possible law? It is true we
have untrammeled personal freedom
under it-and freedom is a precious
thing-but far down at the root of it
have we perfect equity9 Do we get
absolute justice out of ite
The smelter magnate and the laborer
do not meet on equal terms to negotiate
their contract. Nine times out of ten
the advantage is all on the side of the
smelter owner. He controls large cap
ital. Want is not waiting at his door
to enter the moment daily wage stops.
The trusts of which he is a member
controls practically all of the smelling
industry, and, save for the few indie
pendent plants, the smelter laborer
must obtain work from him or not at
all. If work ceases he can take a trip
to Europe and wait for the men to be
starved into submission.
The laborer must treat with this tre-
mendous power. He is seeking to sell
his labor in competition with the labor
of the world. Without his daily wage
he and those dependent upon him may
| not be able to buy bread. While the
| smelter owner can wait, the laborer
| must have work.
Starvation is the grim ally Of the
| smelter owner which ever threatens
the laborer. That is why the contest
| is unequal. That is why liberty in
name is not always liberty in fact.
| The two parties to. the contract do not
stand upon equal footing; they have
not equal liberty to enter into the con-
tract or to refrain from it.
Call this paternalism or what you
will, it is truth and it is truth that
will soon compel a change in jurispru-
| dence unless means are found speedily
to control or prevent great combina-
tions of capital in the form of trusts
or corporations controlling, each in its
own field, some form of industry.
Every new trust or combination of ma
tional scope, controlling form of in
| dustry, lessons the ability of laborers
in that form of industry to protect
themselves. 1t leaves to mock them
only the semblance of liberty. It
leaves them often only a choice be-
tween accepting whatever may be Of
fered to them and joining the army Of
homeless tramps.
Law is not a fixed thing. It must
progress. 1t must be adapted to meet
new conditions. In, the United States
new conditions are being created and
the laws must be framed SO as to give
to every human being a fair chance to
secure the largest possible measure OF
happiness News.
Why not let the people own and
operate the trusts? Then the people,
as the sole employer of labor, would
hire themselves, as laborers.