The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-19
TRUSTS AND LABOR.

In recent number of the independent.
Mr.. John d. Archbold, a director Of the
Standard Oil Company, has a paper on
the Effect of Trusts on Labor" which
VIII probably be quoted and criticised to
a greater or less extent during the cam
paign. Being a trust magnate. Mr.. Arch
bold naturally defends the trusts against
those who have been attacking them. He
argues that instead of being an enemy of
labor, they are labors good friend not
only increasing wages but increasing the
opportunities Of labor, and affording en-
ployment the year around.
Mr.. Archbold defines a trust as a large
aggregation of capital for the purpose of
carrying on an industry. How large the
aggrega ton must be to constitute a trust
no one knows. He is not particular on
that point, however, since he says the eff
fects of aggreSations of capital are the
same whether they are large or small.
Such aggregations are made necessary,
to a great extent, by the use of machin-
cry. Another purpose is to obviate waste
of competition in labor. 1t is his conten-
ton that Just in the proportion that cap
ital is able to utilize machinery and by
economies cheaper production, the con
dition of labor is improved" Whatever
cheapens production increases consump-
ton. and increased consumption increases
demand for labor.
When steam looms and spinning jennies
first began to be adopted in England
spinners and weavers Travelled the coun-
try destroying the implements that were
robbing them of their opportunity TO la
Dor. At that time there were 5000 spinners
| and weavers in England. Now in that
country there are over 100000 who earn
living from the spinning and weaving
industry. The railway is charged with
throwing a great many men out Of en-
ployment. Mr.. Archbold recalls this from
his own observations: Il well remember
that Transfers engaged in hauling oil at
OIL Creek, united to tear up the tracks
| of the railway which was destined to dis
place their labor; but the railways of this
country give employment to over a
million people, and indirectly to mil
lions more" In the cotton manufacturing
trade one man can now, with machinery,
do the work which required several men
| seventy years ago. yet the laborers in
This industry had increased from g., go in
1881 to 10000 in 1890" During this time
the consumption Of cotton increased over
100 per cent by reason of a reduction of
| GO per cent. in its cost price" The United
States Senate report of 1893 showed that
while prices had fallen from 40 to 60 per
cent. from 1910 to 1890. wages had risen
in nearly the same proportion.
In reply to the charge that trusts pre-
vents the laborer from becoming interest
ed in the business, Mr.. Archbold declares
it is not well founded Any laborer who
! is economical may purchase the stock of
the corporation with his savings and thus
! become a sharer in the profits And there
are, he says, abundant opportunities for
the intelligent and frugal laborer to rise.
There is always room at the top, and
nearly all successful managers and SUPER
intendents began as ordinary laborers -
! That is true Of the president of one Of the
greatest corporations in this country. The
! President of the Carnegie Steel Company
! gan his career as a shovel hand at 81
per day.
Nor do trusts prevent a large number Of
persons from becoming interested in the
! business. Every one who has money TO
invest" says Mr. Archbold. may become
/ Interested and all classes ana conditions
| do thus become interested" Had the oil
| business continued to he conducted as it
was thirty years ago, he asserts. not one
! half as many persons would have been in
terested in it as now have money in the
| securities of the Standard oil Company.
| That company now employs an army of
$500 working people who draw wages ag-
| eregating 100000 a day. Independent ana
\ competing oil concerns would not have