The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-03-13
CAPITAL AND LABOR.

we nave SiwaJs ceou uuoAeoA"o'J
opposed to sumptusry laws in ref
srence to the settlement OF any diff
ference between capital and labor
which might arise during the course
of their business relations. We are
of the opinion, and we submit that
the experiences Of the past will
clearly establish the correctness Of
our position, that il capital and labor
were left alone matters would sooner
and more satisfactorily be adjusted.
Tt is only when outside influences
are brought to bear either upon
capital or labor that the breach
widens and the two elements drift
further apart, making it more diff
cult for them to come together for a
settlement. Capital recognizes the
fact that it is dependent upon labor
rs means for making dividends upon
the money invested and it is not
reasonable to suppose that it will be
unnecessarily harsh in it's treatment
of the vessels by the employment OF
which wealth is added to wealth; and
on the other hand labor is made
painfully aware that it is wholly de-
pendent upon capital for the means
of securing the comforts as well as
the necsssaries of life and that an
injury to capital must necessarily re-
bound on labor. In times of fnaacial
depression and business stagnation
it seems hard that labor should be
made to suffer by cut in wages, the
adoption of the half time system and
other resources adopted by capital
to stem the food and to weather the
storm, yet it must be remembered
that at the same time capital is en-
dangered and that in many instances
it holds its heads above the waters
and keeps the wheels moving at a
financial loss to itself, oftentimes from
sthoughtful consideration of the ne
cessites and needs Of labor which
would suffer the pangs Of starvation
and the degradation Of nakedness
were the plants or whatnot to shut
down and throw labor entirely out
Of employment.
A striking illustration OF this is
shown by the mill owners of North
Carolina who recently met in joint
session with their employees and
discussed the proposition of the
Legislature of that State to enact a
law limiting the age and hours OF
work of employees in the factories OF
that State. It is affirmed that both
the mill owners and employees were
anxious to avoid any legislation tend
ing to interrupt the harmony then
existing between The two parties
more directly interested and after q
harmonious meeting in which there
was free and full interchange OF
opinions and views they came to the
agreement that:
"First. That one weeks work shall
not exceed sixty-six hours.
ssSecond. That no child less than
u years old shall work in a cotton
mill during the term of an available
public school. Provided, This shall
not apply to children of widows or
physically disabled parents. Pro
vided, further. That 10 years shall
be the lowest limit at which children
may be worked under any circum-
stances.
Third. That We will cooperate
with any feasible plan to promote the
education of the working people in
the State, and will cheerfully submit
to our part of the burdens and lsbors
to advance the cause of general edu-
cation.
'.Fourth. On the basis of the above
agreements of cotton mill owners and
managers We hereby petition the
legislature not to pass any labor laws
at this session of the legislature.
Now we submit that as matter
of speculation of course, that had the
Legislature been bull-headed and
added fuel to the flames by ignoring
the agreement and gone ahead and
enacted a law which was against the
interest of capital, labor would have
undoubtedly suffered to greater or
less extent.
The better plan in future, as the
experience of the past has shown is
for outside influences forbare to
meddle with matters of which they
are not fully informed and let capital
and labor alone to settle their diff
ferences among themselves.
4 lot of editorial wind has been
wasted on the repeal Of the anti-free-