New-York tribune., 1902-09-08
THE WORKINGMAN's WAGES.
TO FILL HIS PLACE WITH a CAPABLE
SUBSTITUTE.

TO FILL HIS PLACE WITH CAPABLE
SUBSTITUTE.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir Is it really true that the exciting questions
to capital and labor which the present coal
miners strike has forced upon all "cannot." as
suggested by Bishop Potter. "be discussed in the
newspapers" Is 1t not true that the bishops and
other clergy of the various churches ought TO study
and discuss them they have opportunity? And Is
1t not true moreover that bishops and other clergy
are constantly mistaking the fundamental prin-
ciples OF the issue. and. through substitution OF
misplaced sympathies for the logic Of essential
facts. only injuring ultimate result. the
cause Of the workingmen whose interests they
undoubtedly have at heart? How many correctly
and so henefcently answer the question: How
much does a workingman earn?' In fact. he
earns what II to replace him. No element OF
slavery or corners entering into the case the
principle which determines the righteousness OF
wages Is this: That mans labor is worth what
competent substitute stands ready eagerly to ac-
cept- He does not ali he may ask personally
or through union all that he can pleasant
ly and prontably spend. what his best friends
would be delighted him have. And any
other theory. however apparently supported by
kndheartedness is not only mistaken. but to the
labortng ultimately injurious.
The rich and mighty corporation known as the
United States Government cannot afford to pay
It's life saving station men more than others equal
ly competent will gladly take. unless 1t Is pre-
pared to make the entire popula ation the bene-
dciaries OF its charity.
When Bishop Potter as conscientious tourist.
engages a boatman at Naples. Sorrento Amalf.
he pays him 50 cents day. He may labori-
ously (a somewhat violent supposition be sure).
and be poor and have a wife and children in great
penury. but the fact that fifty stand the
shore eager take the contract at 50 cents settles
the equity Of the transaction. It Is that the
oarsman but In point of charity he
each OF the fifty the shore. since they GO
have even the 50 cents. with equal need for It,
And what he to the fifty he owes g hundred
thousand poverty stricken men in Southern Italy.
The Bishops missionary at Calcutta will the
man who waits on him the just wage OF 81 IS
month the man finding himself" How. by any
possibility. this. be just wager Because all
the time a dozen hungry standing his
door hoping that the happy employe Will somehow
give up the Job that of them may take IL. The
missionary Christian kindness land his whole
life is given TO dispensing Christian kindness) to
his empIoye. but a little to the dozen men
outside. as also to 10000 poverty ridden wretches
him.
We can illustrate nearer home An iron works
proprietor advertses for fifty men for nine hours
work at So a day (which. by the way is more than
the average minister of the gospel IN this country
receives and is less than the amount which an
average coal miner who has Integrity and energy
can soon earn. One hundred men respond He
engages fifty, and fifty are left outsde-equally
competent and anxious be employed the
terms proposed. Now, general statement. you
never get away from the fifty men outside.
They determine that 81 day inside is an equitable
wage-that 50 cents a day more would be charity
those within, and in equity is just as much and
little more due to those without. And the
minister banker merchant or phtlanthropist
is now heard scolding the iron man for not ad-
vancng wages 50 cents day. the fact Is that the
law OF Christian charity demands that the exhorter
shall give TO each of the outside fifty 10 cents a
day: and this by really more urgent constraint OF
And If Influenced by some walking delegate"
perhaps the fifty within shall forthwith plead pow
a dav and when il is proposed by the owner that
the fifty without take their places call these
dren and meanwhile wreck the iron works. and
@ with the appausee Go Of pSas
strike" Of the present day but what is more will
exhibit themselves as really asking charity in a
cruel robbery of their fellow workmen outside:
Another radical factor in this business which Is
much lost sight of by sentimental phia nthropists
is here: Very few men can organize and run a.: an
extensive and intricate business We may ardently
wish that 1t be true. and blIndIy assume that
finance" and fully competent to displace the own
ers from the Offices, but they are not Not one
and manage far reaching business, and not one
in q thousand to the essential capacity adds the
only is it fact that very few are Executive lead
ers but It is also fact that the vast majority OF
their appropriate stations and opportunities. II is
true that managing capacity and labor are ma tur-
ally dependent but It Is also true that thousand
iaborers are dependent on one manager And
by the walking delegate If it pertains to root
principles of business, is usually absurdity 1t
is not uncommon TO hear Andrew Carnegie spoken
Of as now all right IN lavish expenditure of his
millions for the uplifting of the communities. but
as all wrong in the practices and principles by
which he gained his millions-in expressing the
humble poor. it is said, He did nothing of the
kind. AS general statement, the truth s that he
gave opportunity to labor when ne acquired. and
now gives uplifting to labor from what he acquired
The world is full OF poverty, which not
only to bewail, but by all available means-ar of
US, editors. ministers phanthropists. coal
barens" merchants, financiers-to remedy. But 1t
cannot be remedied and will only be aggrava ted,
by sentimental vaporings and denunciations of
those business principles which in the long
principles of equity and righteousness, and of
religion.
bright feature of this whole business is this
that in this country the really happy medium of
neither poverty nor rtehes'-the level, for in
stance. of the locomotive engineercan be reached
by any boy from any station of life who average
capacities adds energy and integrity
PRESBYTERIAN.
Freeport, Long Island Aug. 80 1902.