Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-30

and who wish to become members OF +
A union, it is well here to state that
Inc Federal Labor Union is the place
for them where they will be received
with open arms. This organization
meets the second and fourth Tuesday
Of each month.
Hours of Labor Must Be Reduced.
Go out into the streets of any of our
great cities today and use your eyes,
and you will n Ut fail to perceive scores |
of honest and Industrious mechanics
and laborers who are out of employ
ment, owing to the invention and in
of labor saving machines.
Day after day they tramp the public
looking in vain for work
and day after day their numbers in
crease, for new machines are being
introduced, and new recruits are be-
ing added to the ever growing army of
the unemployed upon our streets.
Everywhere we find organized Ia
Dor agitating for a shorter worl-day,
and everywhere we find the employing
classes in direct adm bitter opposition.
:. There is only one solution to the
question of the unemployed; if ma
|ClllHe 10 luN cHlCu JAdl AhS
workers to turn out given product
with the expenditure of less time and
labor, one of two things must inevi-
tably follow, either the working hours
must be reduced to suit the new re-
quirements or a sufficient number of
hands laid off to counterbalance the in
creased power of mechanical produc-
ton. This is logic that none can dodge
it is either one thing or the other. Or
gained labor takes the common sense
view of the matter; it claims that as
labor-saving machinery increases the
power and rapidly of production, the
hours of labor should be SO reduced as
to keep pace with it, so that men may
retain employment and have means
ito earn a livelihood. But here capital
steps in and says. mo! We have the
right to hire whom we wish and work
them as long as we desire; the ma
chimes are ours and we run them to
suit ourselves!"
There can never be settlement of
| this great question until the public
conscience is aroused and the people
recognize the necessity of compelling
the passage of legislation, if necessa-
ry to, cover the evil.
1t is impossible to provide work for
the thousands of the unemployed upon
any other grounds than that for the re
duction of the hours of labor. Every
new machine at present invented but
aggravates the evil. The talk about q
return of prosperity or good times while
such conditions of affairs remains is
moral impossibility, too ridiculous in
deed to be even funny. There can be
no return to prosperity so long as the
cause of the present hard times re
mains, and one of great cause OF the
present depression is the sub
stitution of mechanical for mus
cular skill. Therefore, it shoulo
be remembered that every at
tempt of organized labor tt
shorten working hours is an effort tt
comply with a natural law, the viola
ton of which is responsible for the
vast army which exists without an!
visipie means of livelihood. If the gen
erai public, the professional and bust
ness men, really desire a return o
prosperity, they must be prepared t
recognize facts, and give a helpin
hand to organized labor in its battl
for the adoption of shorter worl
! day.
Justice, Not Charity.
Paternalism and patronage in the II
lation of employers to employees ar
distasteful to the American character
and no true American wishes 1t othel
wise. The relation which is based 0
= free contract on mutually of interest
and equality of rights is better an
healthier than that founded on col
l descension on one side and acknow
edged inferiority on the other. Til
} self-respecting American Wage-earne
asks no favors; he demands Twin
: wage, an equivalent for his efficier
Y service-neither more nor less. Ain
\ and philanthropy are not for hin
: Whatever, therefore, employers do vo
= UNFAIRLY for their workmen in addltlo
: to the things" nominated in the bond
I must be done on pure principles
S business and self-interest,no as a ma
It ter of charity. And since far more
being done by American employees
4 the direction Of industrial bettermen
II than the average man Wots of, it
supremely gratifying to know that
few cases are these efforts put on al
~ other ground than far-sighted self
! terest.-Chicago Times-Herald.
k Merchants and Labor Unions
Is. The more wages man gets the mo
II he can afford to spend. If the wag
re were lower the profits of the capital
a would be greater, and what does he
-e with his profit? Does he spend the
e among the business men in the CT
|e where his plant is located, or does
t. not rather take them to some lar
n centre to be reinvested or spel
# them where he can get the create
Injuries?
Let the business man and the offit
}, holder look on labor unionists as be
= eft and not drawback to the co
mnuity. Treat them as men who a
worthy of recognition, who are tryi
to help themselves from being crus