The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-05
From Capitals Standpoint.

Il n fOrcSecn failure OF the
Amalgamated associations
contract breaking strike against the
steel trust, is made in the PittsburS
Dispatch by w. :. Nicholas, writer
of renown, who has recently devoted
much time to the study of the cXccu-
tive men and methods in command of
our large industries.
He reports that those closely in
touch with the toilers expect II silent
but effective reconstruction of organ
lied labor along lines that will view
capital as friend rather than as an
enemy and that in place of club and
torch will emphasize diplomacy and
reasonable argument. And this is 10
be welcomed aud aided by the powers
behind the great industrial combina-
tiOns, who are genuinely anxious, for
selfish reasons, to cultivate friendly
relations with their employees. 1T is
not" writes Mr.. Nicholas, that the
millionaire wants To take the toll
stained brother into his parlOr or share
his bed with him. y desire to estah-
lish relations for the insurance of
peace and stability in the businesses
that give employment to capital and
labor is the main motive. The rich
man is in business To get all he can
out of it, hut now more than ever be-
fore he c0nSults his personal comfort
in the getting. Freedom from disturb
ancc i'm the conduct of business is
more highly priced than ever before in
tho worlds history, ana the men who
have the direction of large affairs
will pay "A greater percentage of net
results to obtain that end than would
have been POSSIBLE to wrest from the
employing classes under the old re-
gimo before the era of combination"
This writer adds: ION their own
motion, influential members of more
than one of the great industrial COM
binations have been at work for many
months trying TO invent plans where
by there can be Il distribution of re-
suits among workinCmCn as well as
shareholders on some equitable profit
sharing basis. No satisfactory plan
has yet been hit on, but considerable
progress had been made when con-
sidcratiOn of the question was inter-
ruptcd by the Inauguration Of the
strike That the matter will he taken
up again is certain and the persons
who are moving in it are advised that
representative workingmeu will COR
| daily cooperate"
II
of labor can be most effectively
brought about is thus indicated: The
great captains Of capital whose mil
| lions are invested in the manufacture
| ing combinations have no quarrel with
| labor They will hail with satisfaction
and delight "A condition such as has
been brought about between the rail-
road companies and the locomotive en-
| gneers, largely through the efforts of
Brotherhood President Arthur, the
greatest labor diplomat of the age. BY
the faithful observance of contracts
the locomotive engineers, under his
| wise guidance and counsel, established
standing and limtless credit with the
employing corporations. The success
of the Arthur policy finds Illustration
in the fact that danger Of labor dis
turbances in that quarter is reduced
to a minimum and members of the
Arthur organization are the best paid
workmen in America BY the eXer-
else of tact and diplomacy Mr.. Ar
| thur has been able to get from the
railroads vastly more for the members
| OF his association than could have
been wrested from them in thousand
years. Mutual respect has taken the
place of distrust and i'll feeling. Con-
tracts and agreements are observed
with religious fidelity on both sides.
Points and differences are fought over
earnestly, but friendly conclusions are
always reached and the element of
vicious friction has been practically
| eliminated"
There has, Mr.. Nicholas assures us,
never been any warrant for the assump.
ton that the controlling influences in
the so-called steel trust have declared