New-York tribune., 1900-01-08
Mr.. LOW TO THE G. F. U.
SPEAKS ON INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS
AND ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM
DEL EC ATES

The attendance at the meeting Of the Central
Federated Union yesterday in the University Set
tlement Hall much larger than usual, and
this due to desire of the delegates to hear
the address of President Seth Low of Columbia
University. The members of organized labor have
always had a friendly feeling for Mr.. Low be-
of the interest which he has shown time and
again In their welfare. He successfully arbitrated
several strikes in a manner satisfactory to both
employers and employees. The delegates were
anxious to hear him speak yesterday and listened
attentveIy throughout his long address.
President Lows subject Some Character
istics of Our Times" and he began by saying that
a distinguished English historian had said that the
year 1S4S was a time of great unrest, and that
the hopes of all good men centred in government
reform. He (the speaker) told fifteen years
ago that when good democratic government OBJ
tanned the problem would be solved and there
would be no unrest. But he found much
unrest now as ever. The present day was not the
day of discomfort, but of surprise and bewilder-
ment. New inventions coming to the front
so fast that it was almost impossible to keep pace
with them.
One of the greatest changes which had been
brought about President Low said that in
dividual capitalists had been absorbed by the
trusts and corporations and the individual workers
had been absorbed by trades unions. Individual
Importance in politics had been increased, but in
dividualty in industrial pursuits had been lost.
The tendency was strongly for division of labor.
could be realized by study of the methods
employed in the vast factories of the land. pair
of shoes passed through many hands before they
finished. whereas in old days one man COM
pleted them. The effect was to make
dependent on one another than ever before; yet 1t
seemed that society dividing against itself and
that combinations of capital and labor wag-
ing constant In truth however. Mr.. Low
said, the combinations of capital and labor really
equalized things and made life worth living.
President Low then went on to say that the
tendency Of the times was to combine At the be-
ginning simple partnership held by the law
to be a menace to society and the organization OF
trades unions prohibited Now trusts had
taken the place OF partnerships and single trades
unions had changed to great National organizations
of labor
President Low declared that he believed in COM
binatons in both capital and labor-that they were
only inevitable, but necessity to the advance
ment of society. He said that ne also believed in
the cooperation of both capital and labor. Both
made mistakes. but the only way of finding out the
limits of either by trying The outcome in the
long run would be thoroughly good for mankind.
President Low went on to say that men were
puzzled and alarmed the combination of capital
in the last twelve months but most Of them under
stood that it unavoidable The tendency to
combination between of similar pursuits was
natural and wholesome. There must be some way
of minimizing the evil effects and increasing the
benefits of combination.
President Low believed in arbitration of differ
ences arising between capital and labor, and
from the capitalists by uniting the unions so close
Iv in their work that it would be difficult to sepa-
rate them He also thought that men should be
more tolerant of another in these days or quick
changes, and not judge too harshly when society
was cropping to find the right path to the solution
of many difficult problems. ,. -.
unanimous vote of thanks was rendered "
then he answered questions propounded by some
of the delegates. ~
Delegate Cowen said that he appreciated Pres-
dent Lows address and that II he had not showed
tha a wa
onfronted them he had at least told them where
they were at But he did not put II strongly
a practical mechanic ne knew that the lie or a
new machine only about twelve months now
vention. This caused to be thrown out OF
work every day. The delegate then asked What
the laboring was TO DO under the clrcum-
| stances. He denied that the capitalists and work.
nGmen suffered equally by these quick changes.
| He declared that he never knew capitalist 70
| lose his dinner and supper by these changes IN
men driven to destitution and desperation by them
| He said he was a believer in improved machinery
| and he hoped the time would come wnen t every cry
thing from manufacturing food 10 operating coal
| mine could be done by merely touching button
| He believed with President Low that the labor
| unions would have to combine as closely as the
Delegate Brown wanted to know what would be-
| come Of the toilers II machinery was to be much
| present eight hour workday was an answer TO
| that and that the Improvement OF machinery must
necessarily result in the further shortening OF the
| hours or labor.
! Delegate Brown then asked If It would not be
best for the Government 10 own and operate the
machinery OF the future NJ MT Low th9ugh[ o IL fos
! question to take up at that time.
President Low closed by saying that when COM
| society means would be found to suppress them.
.