The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-08-17
ORGANIZED LABOR AND WAGES.

ORGANIZED LABOR AND WAGES.
Hon. Bourke Cochran, In an article
In one of the leading magazines of the
country for May, in discussing the eco
nomic conditions as affected by trusts
says the subject would not be complete
without considering the relation of Or
ganized labor to capital, and by a series
Of deductions, based upon entirely false
premises, he assumes to say that Or
ganized labor has no effect on the price
OF labor.
Amy man who has watched the course
Of organized labor for the past decade
and compares it with labor that is un-
organized must have the fact forced
upon his mind that Mr.. Cochran is not
very close to the ground on this portion
of subject on which he claims to be
an authority. He cites that a great
amount Of capital can be moved long
distance for few cents, and the labor
err must pay a large sum to transport
himself the same distance, and if mar
ried, still greater sum to move his
family.
This is true of capital in cash form,
or in a form readily convertible into
cash, or bills or exchange, which can
be sent to a place where there is a
chance Of It's profitable investment very
cheaply, but if this capital is invested
in a business that can not be moved
readily, or Is not easily converted into
cash, then it's condition is much the
same as that Of the married laborer-a
oho 80 IL ,,
loss. '': .t' 80 - T."
Labor, like capital, naturally seeks
the place where it can be profitably
invested, and while local conditions or
demand may for a time alter the price
locally, it will shortly equalize with the
price for the same class of labor in
other localities, as the demand will
bring the supply from either domestic
or foreign source. This point is fully
illustrated by the increased emigration
to the United States and Canada when
times are prosperous in those countries,
and corresponding decrease when the
chance of employment for emigrants at
wages that would repay them for the
cost of moving such great distances is
small. Wages that would be considered
lucrative by many European emigrants,
and would cause them to emigrate to
America, would not be considered suf-
fic1ent, many times, to cause an Ameri-
can laborer, with his knowledge Of the
cost of living and his greater require
ments through a more liberal educa-
ton, to move from one locality to an
other, and there would thus be created
demand for foreign labor that domes-
tic economic conditions would not war
rant. Such condition as this has
made the working population of the
State Of Pennsylvania almost foreign
ization In labor circles Is at it's lowest
and wages in consequence are less.
In those industries where labor Is the
most thoroughly organized the highest
average wages are paid. Is not the
reason plain? When business depres-
sion was the greatest in 1893, 1894 and
1895, unorganized labor was the first to
suffer, and was the greatest sufferer
why? Because 1t was the weaker and
was the first assailed, and from it's very
condition unorganiZed labor was com.
PEELED to accept what it's employers
gave. Organized labor suffered too
but to far less degree. Why? Be.
cause employers recognized that in or.
ganization there is strength, and dread.
ed the battle that might follow.
OF late there has been a good demand
for labor, and in some instances there
have been voluntary advances In wage,
made by employers. but in ninety-nint
cases out Of one hundred they hav,