The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10
STRIKES MAY BE AVERTED
If BOTH SIDES TRY TO LIVE UP TO
THE GOLDEN RULE.
Labor Organizations Just rs Neces-
sary as Organized Capitalize Mo-
nopOIies in This Country.


day upon Labor and Capital" On taking
the platform he was greeted with an en-
thusiastic Chautauqua salute and was then
introduced by Bishop John II. Vincent.
Much of his address was along the line of
the one delivered at Urbana a few days
ago. but there were many new utterances.
Among other things he said:
To-day the United States stands fore
most in the ranks of nations in its IN
dustrial life. We are blessed with greater
natural resources than any other part OF
the globe.
Organized labor is an important article;
ii came to us with the influx of population
from the old world from conditions which
do not and cannot exist in America. II
was organized there under the conditions
which made labor antagonistic 10 capital,
a feeling that every employer was against
the laborer.
Organized labor is an institution that has
come to stay. 1t is an institution that is
promoted by laboring men who seek TO
protect themselves and whose hope is
mutual benefit. In its early days organized
labor went upon the theory that the only
way TO settle labor difficulties was TO
strike, but it is my theory that it is be-
coming recognized that there is better
way to settle such differences.
From what / know OF human nature,
every man has an approachable spot and
the best way TO reach that spot is by kind
ness. You can reach men by coming near
them and learning their conditions. To say
that labor leaders are in the wrong is not
always true; TO say that the majority or
them do not intend to do right is mistake.
My theory is that if you bring men together
in a way to make them know each other
and II you appeal 10 the head and the
heart you establish bond between the two
factions that cannot be broken. The civic
federation is trying 10 establish condition
of absolute confidence between employer
and employe. We remember the golden
rule and try and live up 10 its principle
This is the only way 1 know TO settle the
dispute between capital and labor.
GOLDEN RULE PRACTICABLE.
us this practical? Yes; provided you
treat the men in your employ as you would
have them treat you. ! know that the
tendency in this country and the world
has been to selfshly appropriate the larger
parts of the benefits of industry TO cap
ital. AS long as labor was in a situation
that ii must submit ii did so, but in the
twentieth century when thinking men be-
gin TO think seriously upon this question
they made up their minds that they must
give consideration TO the fact that the
laboring man is entitled 10 a greater share
OF the products of industry than he had
enjoyed in the past. We must give them
a larger share of the profits of industry
which they helped TO create But there
are other grievances than the matter of
labor which demand attention. Therefore,
wOrkmen banded themselves together into
organizations for their own benefit: or
ganizations which through proper means
will enable them to reach that source of
power which Will bring a remedy. These
organizations, so far as l am familiar with
them, carry beneficial features; a mutual
assistance 10 the members and their fam
lilies.
What better motive? What greater in
centive can be urged 10 induce the ANAL
gamation of labor than this? How much
of that principle enters into the organiza-
ton of capital? None of ii so far as |
know. AS long I live and have my
strength l shall do as l am doing to-day
appeal TO my fellow-countrymen and all
| classes of citizens who are interested in
these great social questions, to appreciate
these conditions. The time IS here when
something must be done. We must forget
| the idea that there are any classes i'm our
| government; we must forget that there is
/ any difference between the man who la
| bors with his hands and the man who la
| bors with his brain. We must strive 10
| bring the different factions together upon
| the ground that both sides want TO do
| what Is right. 1t is fact that more than
| 90 per cent. of the strikes I'm this country
! have been settled in favor of the laborers
| We must concede, then, that they are
| right in the majority of cases and that
capital is wrong.
NO MONOPOLIES.
II believe that the labor leaders are
just as honest just earnest and just as
competent to discuss and act upon these
| great questions are the capitalists. Give
them credit for this, and you will form q
trust which will need no constitutions
| amendment; a trust in each other. You
cannot separate the interests of capital and
labor. When you talk about organized
capital in this country forming monopolies
| you talk nonsense There is no mOnOp
| oily in this country except such as are pro
! tected by patents. There is a great dea
said from demagogic standpoint agains
organized capital In this twentieth cen
| fury the evolution from individualism L
| organization is perfectly natural. This evO
| luton has led up TO great changes In thu
! methods OF production and distribution
| Inventions which threatened the hand la
| borer have been made in all lines of indus
| Try, but they have been turned TO the ben
| eft instead OF TO the destruction of such la
| Dor Invention is the natural sequence o
education
"Organized capital is just as necessar,
| TO get the proper condition of industry a
organized labor. This organization Of cap
ital has come 10 stay, just as organized
labor has come TO stay, and for the sam
| reason-tt is necessary. You cannot sepa
rate the interests of capital and labor. I
II is good for one 10 be organized for an,
purpose II IL good for the other for tn
same reason. They are both good an
necessary as applied 10 our conditions TO
day and our development for the future
The combination Of capital has brough
to our industrial Institutions greater eco
nomic results; it has brought an increas
| III lIdNc anu ulSneI wages 10 lne ldDOreT
AS capital is organized and produces bene
fetal results. labor which was organize
many years before will be the first TO fee
and recognize its effects.
when we reflect how many men were a
the loom, the forge and the workshop VIII
are now capitalists ii is an induccment :
the laborer 10 do his best. When you al
tempt to put a check on enterprise. backe
! by ability and brains. YOU limit the pOwe
for the best development Of the resource
of this great country. Union IS not on
strong for the benefit of labor: il is stron
for the benefit and development in all lines
bringing individuals together in a fore
that IS irresistible. You remember how,
| few years ago, the balance Of trade wa
| largely against US as a nation. particular
~ in the industrial lines. That is no
changed and the balance is largely in OF
favor. This condition has been brougi
about by organize tion; by the organize
ton Of capital and OF labor These, wit
the natural resources of our country. haN
furnished us the means and opportunity fC
this expansion OF business so that to-da
the output Of our factories far exceed OF
imports. l hope that you who are doin
80 much for the advancement Of goo
causes may add this subject TO you
repertoire and remember that there is a
individual responsibility that calls for eac
and every one who has the means and III
opportunity TO do what he can 10 help tn
cause OF the golden rule along and make