The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-05
President Eliot
on Labor Unions
eV,IlE TRIBUNE has received from
prnsillenI Eliot Of Harvard MniNnr-


President Eliot Of Harvard univcr-
L sitN Il complete and correct copy OF
: his recently delivered address upon
Labor Unions from the Educators Point
| OF View" which has caused much dis
ctission and some criticism among labor
| leaders. Recognizing that the Views upon
| this subject Of Americas foremost edu-
| Gator have instructive value. we give be
| law what Dr.. Eliot said, omittns only
non-essential parts
1t is natural for one whose profession
| is education to sympathi2e with other ef-
forts to uplift the race. to make the lot
Of average, mankind more satisfying and
happier. That being the ultimate object
of education itself, an educator necessar-
lily sympathizes with other broad ef-
| forts to Droduce. the same result that he
seeks. Among these must he counted the
work of the labor unions. They heartily
believe that their work tends to uplift
the aboring classes. They heartily he
dustrial warfare their object is to raise
their class, though at present sacrifice.
This belief Is their strength.
Work the Basis of Civilization.
1t is however. clear that educa ton is
not the primary instrunentality of civil
ization. The primary instrumentality Is
We work, rGg1la daily work ON thni lnSsI Ssr
uplifting mankind. This clearly appears
in the history of our race. No, savage
people. no nomad tribe. can be lifted into
regular. daily. settled work, The same is
true with every individual. Education.
therefore. is a secondary fundamentally,
importance of humane conditions of the
daily abo BY which the millions are sup
ported-the daily labor which forms the
groundwork of the civilization of the peo-
pie.
And now. what are humane conditions
of employment" | am going to try to
,t., state what think to be the humane con On
uitionS OF employment. basing my de-
lineatiO on my own experience OF uni
Versity employment.
Humane Conditions of Employment.
The first of these humane conditions 1
conceive to be IL rising wage--that is 81
wage which gradually-it need not be
rapidly--increascs with the laborer's in
This condition means for the laborsr
hope, expectancy, recognition of merit,
and gradually increasing reward of merit.
II seems to me that this rising wage
should be regarded as an essential con-
dition Of satisfactory employment.
The second universally desirable condi-
quate probation. have never seen any
hesitation on the part of young men in
accepting reasonable" probation. and eN-
Yet that methcd Of steady employment
after adequate probation can hardly be
said to exist in the ordinary Industries or
the clNlll2eu nations. III appEeS ulSnllsSill
only for cause-for plainly visible. indis
putabe cause. 1t also implies. on the
part of the employer, a perfect readiness
to deal justly and fairly with complaints.
| believe steady employment to be the
sound condition for national human de-
vclopment in all walks of life. 1t is the
steady job which develops fine human
character, and. on the other hand, spas
modic employment is a very unfavorable
condition for the development of char
acter. 1t may seem strange to you even
to mention such reasonable opportunity
for the development of character as
steady work among conditions of employ
ment. We certainly are not accustomed
to that view. But is it not, after all. the
only rational view of human conditions
Of employment?
A third humane condition Of employ
ment | hold to be encouragement for the
making of a permanent home That is
just what the university conditions of en-
ploymeni encourage. The making OF a
permanent home means that the home
creator has opportunity to form local at
tachments, to cvince public spirit, and
to win for himself local reputation among
his neighbors. NeighborhOod reputation
is the most rewarding kind OF reputation
These aids to the development of char
acter and these SOURCES of happiness the
normal workman loses completely. There |
fore a wandering. unattached condition |
for labor is always unhappy and mex
pedient, whether we regard the interests |
of the individual or the interests of So
cin