The age-herald., 1900-12-30
OUTLOOK FOR LABOR
 IN THE NEW CENTURY
TIMES FOR
THE ROCKINGHAM
By Edwin Mar kham.

By Edwin Markham.
 The following questions were sent to MT. Edwin Markham at his home in Brooklyn, who wrote the answers specially for the Christian Herald. The lines quoted in two or three of the questions are from MT. Barkhams collected poems, published by Doubleday, Page & Co.,, en<1tled .'The Man With the Hoe and Other Poems
 1. On what questions should all branches of labor unite for the good of the country?
 On the reduction of hours of labor per day; or compulsory arbitra ton; on the study, from humane motives, of the CO., operative ideal in industry.
 2. In what way, toward what end, should labor utilize it's gigantic strength?
 They should resolutely will 10 come into harmony and unity of aim and aspiration; they should make appeal through the ballot box for an enlargement of the rights of man. They should strive to so organize the world as to keep open the gates of op- portunity.
 B. What opportunities should the new cen tury bring to the workingman?
 Security in his work, and sufficient leis- ure from his work to give him time to cul- tivate his moral and aesthetic nature.
 4. What effect, in your opinion, will great combinations of wealth have upon the Wcrkingman of the future? Will concentra- tion of wealth, trusts, etc, prove benefit or a drawback to the worklngmans prog ress?
 Great combinations of wealth will tend to make great counter combinations among the working classes. Trusts will be de- cided drawback to the workingman's prog ress unless some means shall be found to make them serve the good of the whole people as now they serve the good of very few.
 5. To what degree should the workingman be made a partner of wealth?
 If I understand question: he should be made full partner. In other words, he should receive as nearly possible the full value of the things he makes or does.
 6. In one of your poems, 'Fhe Man Under the Stone,' you compare workingman to a man going through life pushing a great stone always up hill. What is the working mans real burden-what is the real stone in his uphill life?
 That great stone is his unequeal struggle for bread today, still further weighted with the fear of penury tomorrow and the dread of a destitute old age. All this of course, springs out of the narrow margin of scant wage and precarious employment.
 T. What kind of help, aside from higher wages, does the laboring man need?
 He needs the contented mind that comes from security in his work and joy in his work This necessarily carries the Idea that he must have more leisure and more culture.
 s. What would most help to tighten the teiler's burden?
 Cooperation in the place of competition in the industrial world. Cooperation is the logic of Christianity.
 g. How can the government best help the wordngman?
 As first step,-by assuming control of railroads, telegraphs etc, and so moving wisely on toward government ownership of all industries which in private hands have become a menace to the public good and the public safety
 TO- What should be done with the idle mil lions? with the great army of men who want work and yet can find nothing to do?
 As a first stey, they might well be em- ployed by cities and states, at living wages upon public works. If enough work of that kind is not forthcoming, let the public powers establish shipyards and other indus tries sufficient in number to employ the willing hands. Of course, if We had more effective organization of industry, working time fer the now idle could be found by cutting down the excessive hours at pres ent forced upon the overworked. Keep cut ting down the hours of the days work until everyone has work
 H. Are strikes, which are really battles between workman and employer, helpful or harmful to the toler?
 As a rule they are harmful to the toiler. But at times they seem to be cruel necessi- ties
 12. Would the toiler benefit if, instead of striking, he submitted his grievances to the general government or to a labor de- partment regulated by law, and having a Minister of Labor in the Presidents Cabi- net? Would not this be a better way for the workingman, for the settlement of the differences between empioyr and employed?
 Yes, labor should be represented in the cabinet by an intelligent laborer; not by parlor farmer, nor by a retired capitalist. The method you suggest of settling strikes would be decided improvement upon the present hap-hazard plan.
 13 Their blind feet drift in the darkness, and no one Is leading" What kind of lead CTS do the toilers need?
 They need leaders with the white purity of St. Francis and the iron resolution of a Cromwell, leaders whose watchword shall