Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-28
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5 PEOPLES PULPIT.
How and Why Capital and Labor
Should Agree.
by R. WILLIAMS, Kcb.l

Should Agree.
by R. WILLIAMS, Keb.l
Editor of Courier:-In reading the
Saturday Courier, in its report OF the
conference just held between the min
ers' representatives and the coal bar
ons and the President, it has become
more apparent to the average reader
as to why labor and capital should
agree; also how they should agree. as
the fact was demonstrated that organ
lied labor is an institution that has
come to stay, since it is an institution
that is promoted by laboring men who
seek to benefit themselves and whose
hope is mutual benefit to all.
Organization OF capital has also
come TO stay, just as organized labor
has come to stay, and for the same rea.
sons. 1t is necessary, as you cannot
separate the interests of capital and
labor. If it is good for one to be or
ganized for any purpose it Is certainly
good for the other and for the same
reason. They are both good and nee
essary, as applied to all conditions to-
day as we'll as the development for
the future.
A combination OF labor and capital
has brought to our industrial institu-
tons greater economic results. 1t has
brought an increase in trade as well
as higher wages to the laborer. AS
capital is organized and produces bene-
ficlal results, labor, which was organ
lied many years before, will naturally
be first to feel and recognize its ef-
fects. The opponents of the argument
say: ooh, but the necessities of life
are raised to meet the advance in
wages" This is somewhat true, | adj
NIT, but still We have no evidence to
prove but that it would have been the
same had not wages advanced, which
enable the laboring man to be better
prepared than il wages had not adj
vanced. Therefore, we must strive to
bring the different factions together,
upon the ground that both sides want
to do that which is right.
In it's early days organized labor
went upon the theory that the only way
to settle labor disputes was to strike
This is and should be restorted to
only in the extreme cases. In theory
1t is becoming generally recognized
there is better way to settle labor
| difficulties, and that is by compulsory
arbitration. South Wales has such a
law which has proven a complete sue.
cess, especially so when one side, as
In the present case, is not disposed to
be fair. My theory is that if you bring
/ men together in way. to make them
Know each other and thtSl il, you appeal
TO the head and the heart, you then
establish bond between these two
opposing factions, labor and capital
that will not be broken. The great
fundamental principle of all should be
to establish an absolute confidence
between the employer and employee
When we succeed in doing this each
part will remember the Golden Rule
and live up to it. There should be nc
conflict between these two parties as
their interest is identical if only con
sldered so from the last conference be
tween alabor and capital This Is the
only way know of to settle disputes
between these two fractions.
The result of this notable conference
Will only have a tendency to awaken
our next congress to keener sense
of its duty. While there is no statutor,
law to compel those coal barons tt
recognize Mr., Mitchell and his as
sociates, there is law of common
courtesy, which one man owes an
other-that of a hearing. The attitude
and language used by them is one thai
! will merit the contempt of all honest
thinking people, ("give us militia we
will give you coal.") Such Language
in this, the most enlightened age thu
world ever saw, and during The
best times in the history o
our nation. Mr.. Markle. wht
used this language, is well known t,
the writer, who has had many a til
with him when he occupied the sam,
position as the writer, that of a Goa
miner In those days he was no
capable of giving advice to any one
| let alone debating to the President O
the United States. The coal baron
| will not get the militia, neither viii
they get coal until their present loft,
attitude is changed. Pin this in your ha