The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-07
MODERN PROBLEM
Prof. Wyckoff, Writer and Wage
Garner, Delivers an Address.

The attendance at the open meeting OF
the Rhode Island women's Club. held In
the Mathewson street church. Wednes-
day, February 9Th, at three o'clock in the
afternoon, gave proof that Providence
people appreciated the opportunity af-
forded to hear Professor Walter A.
Wyckon, well known as author OF The
Worker5" and as a profound and practi-
cal student OF social economics.
In appearance, the speaker OF the after
noon did not fully realize the pre-con-
ceived ideals of those who knew him only
from his writings. He looked every inch
the professional man, but no hint OF his
prowess as a porter was, at first glance,
apparent.
The puzzle was to find in the scholarly
presence on the platform the wage-earner
OF the factory and the logging camp. But
the student in looks Is. also, the man who
has been a part OF the social conditions
he describes and whose point OF view is
that OF the working man. as well as OF
the scholar and reformer along the lines
OF social progress.
His voice is low, with something like an
Engfishman-s Infections and tone. He
uses few gestures and his manner is ac-
centuated quietncss Tie makes his per-
sonality felt i'm conversation while his at
tltQue Is TO lne WOTlu OF WORKERS.
and reporters. AS Miss Ellen c. Hunt,
president OF the club. said in introducing
the speaker. his study OF economic con-
ditions has been supported by expert
mental knowledge and practical research
he. Is not theorist, but n realist, con-
cerning these important problems of mod
ern industrial life.
Walter A. Wyckoff is a young man--he
was born I'm Mainpuri. India, April 12,
10 10 alIt n nf
Princeton, where he is now assistant pro-
fessor OF Political Economy.
In beginning his talk Prof. Wycko6 AL
luded TO his personal experiences among
the army OF unskilled workers extending
over a period of nearly two years and in
different sections of the country from
New England to the Pacific coast. This
individual experience is not sufficient
basis for generalizatio upon the condi-
ton of the wage Garner. but IL brought
the student OF economics into a somewhat
vital contact with the laborer i'm the
streets. the manufactures and the nelds.
r ne urskiftcd workman readily earned his
board until he reached the great indus
trial centre, Chicago I'm 1891, and Prof.
Wyckoff concluded that work was every
where to be had by the man willing snd
able to perform manual labor.
In the great city II was different II
was over supplied with unskilled labor
ers-30.000 In excess OF the demand. There
arose from tSis congested condition. a
new problem. The sweat shops multi
piled i'm dens where rent was cheapest
and there were no factory regulations.
The sub-contractors underbid each
other TIL wages we're cut 10 the lowest
possible limit-thirty-five cents n dozen
for shirts. paid TO the poor widow. for
example. These sweat shops are but re-
productions OF the factories one hundred
as TO child labor or sanitary conditions.
The generic problem of today is not
that however. of the sweat shop, but
consists in finding out the right adjust
ment between the supply and demand OF
the labor market IL must be recognized,
too. that labor Is differentiated from other
commodities by reason Of its human ele-
mont. Consumers leagues and other like
agencies NAV serve 90 palliato. but will
not cure the evils OF the sweat shop. The
sub-contractors must be beaten on their
own ground When the sweat shops do
not nav, that division OF the social prob
lom viii receive It's economic and only go
luton.
There is n Capitalization and organza-
tlon Of capiAl going on today. just as
there IS \ centraliza ton and organza-
tion Of labor = vage-earning class IN
being formed which can belong 20 no
other class. just ms there is a class OF
Capitalization. The question ~ iudivid-
ual property rights is NJ tho foundation
- Industrial and moral progress. Wa
cannot and would not go back 10 feudal-
Ism
We must f0rge ahead. But the free
dom OF the individual must not be for
Cotton. Production is becoming moro
scientific. and making more stable the
business OF the world We cannot blind
ourselves 20 the CvllE % Capitalization.
bat 70 hns come 90 stay and we must ad-
irst ourselves 20 change conditions. La-
Dor must be better organized 20 properly
cope with the best organized capital
\ true solidarity OF capital and labor
Interests will come about whom industrial