Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-09-11
SHARING IN InE pRoEIIs.

SHAKING IN hit PkOftIS.
We believe the time is coming when
strikes will be unheard Of in this coun-
try and when the relations between
capital and labor will be harmonious,
1t will take time TO bring these condi-
tions about, but the signs are not lack
ing that it is not SO very far distant.
In some Of the great industries where
strikes were very frequent years ago
they are now of rare occurrence. There
are several reasons for this. One is
wise leadership among the ~organiza-
tons, another a disposition ON both
sides TO arbitrate all grievances, and
still another and greater reason the
mutual cooperation on the profit.
sharing plan. While this might not be
practicable in every branch OF industry
il would work satisfactorily in a major
ity Of the large manufacturing enter
priscs and those embraced in the public
utilities.
OF course the demagogue will oppose
the proft-sharing plan. The laboring
man receiving a dividend in addition TO
his wages would be something that
would smack too much of the capital
istic class" according to this class OF
statesmen. Like Othello, their occu-
patton would be gone; there would be
no one to listen to their vicious and
trouble breeding harangues.
Mr.. Bryan is alarmed. Although he
advocates a dishonest dollar, which
mean reputation of private and
public obligations, he thinks profit
sharing would be wrong. In his Labor
day speech at Kansas City he inycighed
against il. lie says: 1T would be
immoral and impolitic. II would be
like dividing t~hespoilS Of highwaymcn,
II would he like permitting a nan TO
rifle your pockets and then offer to di-
vide the proceeds with YOU"
These are the words Of a man who
wa, twice a candidate for the prcSi.
dcncy. Vet there was not a man in his
audience but could have said the same
thing. had he been mean enough. with
out receiving the ]faintest applause,
They are the words of a common seold.
There are great corporations and enter
priscs in which the profit-sharing has
been and is being tried successfully,
and which have no connection with
trusts.
But supposing trusts are going to
eNist-and Mr.. Bryan has never sug-
gcstcd a plan ofsupprcssing them-is il
. better that the workmcn should
share in the profits realized? If they
have no fault to find no one else should.
Mr.. Bryan holds soIne views regarding
the control Of trusts. and hc is lawyer
enough 10 know that their forma-
ton caunot be prevented. But Mr..
i1ryan's W pet scheme of control
ing trusts 10y a constitutional amend
mcut. thereby giving congress author
ity over such combinations, was antag-
onized by his own party when an effort
was made to secure such Legislation.
While the Democrats cannot point to
anything that they have ever done for
laboring men, they are constantly
posing as their friend. II would mean
mo- eggs in their basket to have all con-
tention and strife between capital and
labor removed. Their last hope for
party success would be gone.
Fortunately for the welfare of labor
and of the country generally the Bry-
ans, Lcntzs, Towncs and Tillmans have
not succeeded in fooling the masses by
d~iscounting their intelligence, which is
in itself an insult. Practical results
speak louder than empty promises.
Possibly if Mr.. Bryan should strike oil
down in Nebraska his vocal organs,
like those Of Charles a. Towne, would
never be exercised again in behalf Of
labor.