Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-12

1t strength and which infuses the mem- bers with the common spirit essential to it's success. They are therefore ex- pected to be above the considerations that actuate others, and they would more firmly establish themselves in the public confidence by taking the broad economic ground, instead of be- ing influenced by momentary advan- tages. As they are themselves the re- suit of industrial development, they cannot afford to stand in it's path.
 The limitation of apprentices can be defended upon economic grounds wherever there are enough to perform the work, as those already in the trade have a right to protect their standards from being lowered through the in- flux of other workmen tempted by the higher wages, which they have up- held. h conceding that, it follows that if there be more workmen than required the obligation is likewise i'm posed upon them to help the extra number find employment somewhere else. If things were permitted to take their course, the least competent workman, being without employment, would be forced to accommodate them selves to other employment, and Ill that way the normal level would be maintained. One of the good effects of the late coal strike was the elimina- tion of large proportion of the sur plus laborers on account of the num- Der who found employment during the strike in various occupations iii diff ferent parts of the country, otherwise they would have remained hindrance to the rest, in the belief that they were destined to eke out a living where they were. While such is the conclusion from purely a economic point of view, we. cannot expect the artisan losing his job through some invention to regard it with the com placency of the student, who has in mind the welfare of the whole rather than the interests of particular individ- uaIs. You cannot convince him that industrial harmony and the larger iil- terests of his class demand that the superfuous workmen in trade find work where their labor is needed. But an understanding of economic laws by the thinking people will help to mod fly the harshness of this situation and prepare the workers for the changes that inventions necessitate.
 The insufficient share of labor in the fruits of industry is responsible for the glutted markets, the bane of modern enterprise and it is hastened by ma. chinery. Tn order TO overcome this pre- dicament foreign markets have been relied on as an outlet for the surplus goods. During the early part of the factory system in England, foreign markets became the chief dependence, because of the impoverished condition of her working class, and it was even held by the economists of that period that it was unavoidable that the work. CTS be reduced to baTs subsistence In order to enable England to sell her goods abroad. Tn that case cheapness was obtained by sacrificing the work CT and machinery was used to subdue him. The stupidity of such policy became apparent in time by the dread ful 5consequalces. ..@
 Under conditions where the laborer can offer no lNisista1ce and the so- called iron law of wages operates to keep him down to the life line, ma chinery only adds uncertainty to his other woes. He is as it were out of civilization. Wherever he presses up ward and secures larger share of an ever enlarging product, machinery be comes an uplifting force.
 The influences that are bringing about this result are education, which arouses ambition in the worker; organ ization, that enables him to assert himself, and more liberal conception of the relations between employer and employed, that serves to minimize the severity of the industrial strike and promotes fairer dealing. With such a trend taking place the worker will in time become reconciled to the machine, and instead of regarding it as curse will welcome it as the only means that makes possible more wages with short. CT hours and enhances at the same time the purchasing value of money, three. fold gain, prospect that makes the disadvantages of machinery fade into nothingness.
 Address by John R. Commons before the Civic Federation in New York:
 The very reasons for the existence of union is an effort to interfere at one or more points with the liberty of the employer in managing his business If all restrictions and interferences on employers should be condemned, does it not follow all labor unions should be condemned?
 But for some reason the ccndemna ton of labor unions has not prevailed and they have sprung up and have compelled employers to submit to what in a wide use of the word may be called restrictions. If employers deal with labor in the future as they have dealt in the past unions will continue to grow, and increasing number of em ployers and industries will be brought to face union restrictions.
 A short work day is simply one form of the demand for higher wages. Ii means high wages for the time oi work. Does increase in wages restrict output? Now wages and hours oi labor are questions exactly the. oppo site from those of output or restric tions on output. By wages and hours of labor we mean simply the rate oi pay per hour received by the workman By output we mean the amount oi product per hour which the workman gives in return. Wages and output to gether determine cost, and if the short CT day or higher wages bring greatel l. S14I I~