Connecticut western news., 1900-08-30
8 8 s s $@ s 8 s THE FUTURE s OF LABOR IN ~ AMERICA. g
 A Look Backward &3 and Forward.
5 g s g s 8 g

w we draw nearer to the clos
 ing hours of the last year of the century that has been so full of changes for those who learn their bread in the sweat of their faces" this. question presses us for some sort of answer. There Is no seer among us who has the gift to penetrate the veil that shuts out from mortal eyes the future, and the gift of prophecy Is not vouchsafed to the sons of men in this materialistic and practical age. There fore the best that any one can do Is to review the past and study the pres ent and in these lights try to see what the future holds. Under these cireum- stances each one will be influenced by his hopes, his past experiences and his environment.
 In considering the changes that have taken place in the condition of the workers during the century that is about to close there are several points of view. That there has been a gener- al improvement, that the race, as a whole, has gone forward, Is pretty thor oughly conceded, though there are some persons who conscientiously long for a return to the old days of simplic- lty and conservatism. but that the pro- iucers have reaped their full share in the advance Is disputed question. Frequently when discussing this sub ject with well meaning persons who said that labor organizations were un- reasonable in their demands have run against the following, which my dis putant thought was crusher: Com pare the lot of the workingman of today with the condition of his ances- tor 100 years ago. Why, I can remem- Der 90 years back, when very few homes had the conveniences that the poorest workman's home now has. Then his floors were bare, his clothing was of the commonest, his fare frugal, his amusements simple or none at all, his children uneducated, his hours of labor long and arduous and his pay small. Now the average workman has f brussels carpet on the floor of bis best room, an organ in the parlor, good and comfortable clothing on his back, and his children have as good chance as the children of the rich to secure common school education. His hours of labor have been greatly lessened. his wages have been more than doubled, and he has unlimited opportunities for recreation and pleasure" This looks like strong presentation of the case of those who claim that labor is unrea- sonable and piggish, and so 1t Is If the argument Is to be limited to compar- lson of the condition of class at one time with what 1t was at an earlier period. But there Is another way of looking at the subject, and from this viewpoint the picture Is not so rosy. The advocates of labor-or the Apos- ties of Discomfort, If you like the char acterization better-claim the right to look at the question from relative standpoint, and 1t seems hardly possi- ble that any fair minded man can dis pute the claim.
 The intelligent laborer, who knows that to his industry and skill is due in greatest measure the progress made, who realizes that the great temple of civilization has been raised, block upon block, by his strength and cemented with his sweat and tears, charges civilization with having, through It's industrial system, exploited him. 1t is admitted, at least in this country, that there Is no progress in the changes that limit their benefits to a portion only of the people. If, therefore, the | contention of the Apostle of Discomfort | that the relative conditions of master and man are not materially changed is | correct, then my friend who measures the stasus of the workingmen with car | pets and cottage organs has not such a | strong argument after all.
 | Another point in the argument of the apostle is that the advancing civiliza- ton has increased the desires and am- | bitions of mankind generally, else there has been no real progress, as has [ been already cited. And not only has the desire for better condition been cultivated by the general advance, but 1t Is an undisputed fact that the neces- sities of the man of today, regardless | of his position, are much greater than were those of his type under the olden regime. The luxuries of 50 years ago are the necessities of today. Of what
 benefit will the free schools and the
 other advantages over their grand
 fathers be to the children of today If
 they are to be satisfied with the sta
 tons In life that were occupied by their fathers-that Is, If the tendency of the
 race is still to be upward? To firmly
 grasp this thought just imagine society
 with the sole exception of the laborer
 Gin the same sense that that word is
 generally used), continuing what we
 call its advance at the present break
 neck speed. The idea Is absurd
 Were labor to accept the dictum oi
 some of the preachers and professors
 and become contented with what we
 will admit Is its improved condition
 the wheels of progress would wabblt
 on for time under their impetus ant
 then stop stock still. The wise mar
 in the high place knows that he holds
 his position or goes higher only wher
 the mudsill Is pressing upward ant
 raising all that stands between hin
 and the topmost layer. The progress
 of -rou evpresses only the elevation O |