The labor world., 1900-06-09
respective spheres and toward COM

respective spheres and toward a COM
mon object
! Mr.. Towne declared that one reason
why SO many difficulties occur between
what are called capital and labor, is
that men will not be frank and honest
| in their criticism and advice. The de-
sire to fatter frequently leads to such
iindiscriminate praise of labor and the
endorsement Of whatever claims are
made in it's behalf, that those who for
the time being have charge Of the con-
Icerns of labor are encouraged to take
! a position in which they can not sus-
tain themselves by the power of public
opinion. Public opinion, he said, will
| in the long run control. He quoted
Ducrot who said that the man who
can direct public opinion is the real
ruler, for in the last analysis public
opinion controls everything. Many a
labor contest, said he, founded upon
justice is lost because it is advocated
by men who do not sufficiently consider
this point. The American people be-
Ilieye in law and order and nationally
so, because all progress is according to
some law, whether it be in the material
moral, or social world. By long ages
| of adjustment to this principle, the hui
man mind is so constituted that it re-
coils from violence. Therefore, the sur
est reliance of any just cause though
it may seem long time in being
reached is on the approval and support
of the intellect and conscience of av-
Ierage men. Mr.. Towne referred to the
ST. Louis street car strike, and, while
he disclainled any accurate knowledge
Of the causes that led to it, he said he
was perfectly clear on one Hoint and
that is that the violence the destruc-
ton of property and the loss Of life
that are marking it's progress are fat
ally prejudicial to a consideration of
the contention of the strikers on it's
merits No doubt, he said, a large part
of these unfortunate incidents are due
not to the men engaged in the strike
but to those lawless elements of So
ciety that lllrk about great cities and
embrace any opportunity of disturb
ance and destruction. This view re-
ceives force, he declared, from the fact
that the same thing is witnessed in the
Istreet car disorders in Berlin, Germany,
going on at the same time But this
very fact that ruffians and law break
ers will make labor disturbances the
occasion of their own trade, and the
knowledge that labor will be charged
with the greater part of the response
bility for it. should dispose men in
Icharge of labor organizations to exer-
else the most exceeding vigilance and
self control in order that conflicts with
employers shall be as infrequent as
possible and. when Inevitable, ground
led on such demands of obvious justice
land fairness as to receive the support
Iof public opinion In this way, un-
lquestionably. we may slook to the flu
ture for the gradual formulation of
rules and customs in accordance with
which public sentiment will demand
THAT disputes between labor -hnd cap
lital shall be settled
Incidentlly to y. $ discussion, which
Mr.. Towne declared must be, from the
fact that he had not expected to make
a speech, somewhat at random, he re-
iferred to the subject of socialism, and
deprecated the understanding quite
commonly prevalent as to the real
meaning of the term. He said he would
confess to be himself quite a consid-
cradle ultimate socialist, except for the
Imisconception which the term seemed
! to convey to many people who did not
| take the time to understand it. For
( instance, he declared that he could see
| no justice in the private appropriation
| of values due to social creation. He
ILLUSTRATED by supposing the case of a
man who buys a small tract of land
where gradually a, town grows up that
expands into a large city. The price
of the ground may have been origin
| ally a very few dollars but in the life
time of a single man it may grow to
millions solely because other men. set
tie in the vicinity and through the
lcomplex demands of society,". as applied
| to the limited area and capacity Of the
ground, add a value by their mere
lpresence. Under existing conditions
lall this enhanced value goes to the
lucky owner of the land. He has not
created it. ] believe in all justice some
means must and will be ascertained
whereby those who create this wealth
shall enjoy it. Similarly, Mr.. Towne
| took up the cases of the street railway
and other franchises granted by soci-
| ETY. to individuals, and by them cap
italized and made the basis of vast
earnings falling into private pockets
whereas the function performed is pub
| lie in it's nature and necessarily monop-
olistic. This led him into some consid-
GRAFTON of the subject of monopolies,
in the course of which he declared that
monopolies in private hands are wholly
inconsistent with social justice and that
one of the reforms of the immediate fu-
ture will be the settlement of this ques-
ton in accordance with the rights Of
society.
In conclusion, Mr. Towne referred to
the fact that all men come into the
world subject to the same physical
conditions and committed to the drift
of the social current under circumstan-
ces implying mutual dependence, for
| bearance and assistance. He claimed
that conditions of social warfare are
anomolous and inexcusable; that no
man can live to himself alone, but that
every man is under the absolute ne
cessity OF depending upon other men,
and in turn of cOntribntine his aid tn