The sun., 1900-01-17

anu Ia SUCH matters the ranuence u
the great organizations Is strong with
unorganlzed workers, 1t seems proba.
BILE. that Mr.. Bryan will not find his
antitrust crusade 50 profitable as he
expected. for Mr. Gempers gave some
substantial reasons for his position.
Mr.. Gonpers held it too early 10 say
whether the tendency of trusts was 10
benefit labor or the reverse, as some
had raised wages, while others had not.
But he thought the labor organizations
would be able TO take care OF them.
selves In any contest with tie trusts,
thus delicately suggesting that the new
organizations, with their enormous cap
ltalization, would be at least as vulner.
able in any contest as the separate con
Germs which were united In their for.
nation. The mere fact that these mon.
ster organizations viii have nowhere 10
look for a supply or labor skilled II
their particular work II they engage III
q struggle with those they have en-.
ployed adds greatly to the power Of the
labor organizations. When II i also
considered that the big combinations
are also peculiarly exposed 10 competl.
ton and that comparatively small
number of skilled workmen. with the
aid Of capital which could always be
FOUND for such venture, could set up
an opposition III tile most costly kind,
y may rs perceived that Mr.. Gompers
had more reasons FOR lis suggestion
than he thought il well 10 statc.
lie deals another rude blow NJ the
trust hunter Ii saying that he an nor
attach much Importance TO the alleged
tendency or trusts to Increase prices.
because the general trend Of prices was
always downward. AS time goes ID the
wage earnels get larger share of the
wealth which they produce, and, though
At Gompers does not say thai Ills Il
the necessary eArct uf Jaws with wLich
organizations on either side have ltt.le
70 20, i Is nevertheless tile ract. When
there was nu organization Or labor Or
81 capital in any branch. the tendency
was tle samr. ana IL does NOT change
when practically all the employers aFe
combined aud practically alD all tie
workers. The process Is greatly acce!.
Grated by wise measures or national
pollcy, as II Is retarded by unwise meas.
lres, but wlRther more Or less rapidlv
n good times or bad, the progress Is lu
he long run always m the same dErec.
ion.
one other suggestion on which M.
IoInpTrs does not enlarge may per.
maps have more weight with the great
1ody Of organized workers ihan any
'ther He fears that any law that
night be enacted against tru sts might
oe turned against organize7 labor
.nongh he denies that II can called
labor trIst. Certainly it canlDt, nor
an any OF tie gnat comblnat! ons or
,apltai LDw existing be properly called
Fusts. tut u viii be found pract ically
impossible % franz any law pro hlblt-
ns ana furnishing Ihe combinations or
apltal 70 prevent competition In tie
making or selling of products without
embracing proyis ions which would 4 Iso
,fohibit and punish i c0nbination nf 4
workers. % preye ent competition ii tie
cling Of labor. 1he right OF the en-
'loyers 70 unite for mutual benefit il
4actiy the sarlc us the right Of labor.
rs = unite To-. tile scme purpose. and
he creation and abuse Of a monopoly
2 products ate III no respect more hos.
lle 70 society than the creation and
puse OF aDT monopoly In hbor. MI
'ompers will iind that this suggestion
tiil bear mug Il fruit, as he evidently
2pected and desired. New York Trib-
me-.