The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-09-27
CAPITAL AND
LABOR MEET
MOST SUCCESSFUL CONVENTION OF
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYE.
Prominent Men in Labor Circles do
Justice to the Cause, Employers
Represented by Most Successful
Men, Students and Teachers-A1
Take Part in Great Conference
for Industrial Peace-Much Good
Was Done.

for Industrial Peace-Much Good
Was Done.
The convention of the employer and
the employe at Minneapolis was le-
cided success from every standpoint.
The question had been asked during
the meeting, what good would come
out of such a gathering?" This may, be
answered in nut shell. Great good
will come from it. 1t had no desire or
hope to attempt to solve the labor ques-
ton, but it was simply planned as a
conference to discuss each others griev-
ances. The moral effect of the confer
ence will be felt for a long time 10
come. The labor question was discussed
in all its phases, from every stand
point. The speakers, with the exception
of your humble servant were all men Of
note in America. There was Carol D.
Wright the greatest statistician in the
world, and Terrance V. PoWderly, still
vigorous in spite of his advanced age;
James O'COnnell, the machinists able
leader; Grand Conductor Clark of the
Railroad Conductors, one Of the ablest
and most logical advocates of labor in
the country: Jane Addams. the Har-
riet Beecher Stowe Of the child slave,
and Florence Kelly, the bale advocate
of purchasing only clean and fair made
goods. All Of these defended labors
side of the question most admira bly,
apital was we'll represented by Heman
Justi of the Illinois Coal Operators as
ISOLATION; President stickney Of the
Great Western railroad; James XIII
boure the great car builder of Column
bus, who has not had strike in his
institution for thirty years; Julian V.
Wright of the National Cash Register
company. and a score of others equally
prominent. The universities Of America
were we'll represented by their most
able teachers in policital economy. Labor
organizations from every portion of the
country sent delegates, and State Labor
commissioners were there in abundance
One of the most interesting events Of
the convention was tilt between Jane
Adams and President Stickney of the
Great Western railway. This railroad
magnate, in the course of his address
on the division of the products of in
dustry, remarked casually that the
strilkos= AT 4lsslpr ~1alt1= =s4aEttllss
most part been for The purpose Of Sc
curing for the workers a larger share
Of the products of industry and that
labor organizations themselves were
held otgetlher by the same laudable
object.
Stripped of rhetoric, Mr. Stickney in
timated that all strikes were primarily
for the purpose of securing for the
strikers more money in the shape of
wages.
Miss Addams Replies.
His remarks might have been pessed
unnoticed but for the action taken by
Miss Addams. who followed him on the
program. She was down to speak on the
evils of child labor and did say some-
thing on this subject, but first she an
nounced that she was going to use
some of her allotted thirty minutes in
showing Mr.. Stickney that he did not
understand the labor movement, as,
perhaps, he thought he did.
Had Plenty of Figures.
From an unexpected receptacle Miss
Adams produced a bulky volume of
statictics, from which she quoted VOL
jority of strikes had been fought out
on other principles than that Of higher
wages.
Mr.. Stickney protested that she was
not regarding the question from the
proper stanG point. but Miss Addams
would not be downed and resumed her
statistics.
When she had concluded the applause
that greeted her as she reached for the
paper she was scheduled to read showd
her pluck in disputing the reasoning of
the noted railway man had been ad-
mired by most of those present. w. E.
McEwen of this paper spoke on the
Future Relations of Labor to Capital.
The speech of Mr. McEwen was
strong and one of the most notable
events Of the convention. and created
considerable favorable comment fol-
lowing adjournment of the morning
session.
In part, he said: What the future
relations Of labor to capital will be,
chosen this subject for the reason that
/ am an enthusiastic advocate of labor
and one of the foibles of the ordinary
so-called labor agitator is to be ex-
tremely visionary. Time, experience and
responsibility. however, serve to mod
crate the thoughtful student and work
er in the cause of labor.
Every person who holds an executive
position in an organization himself and
zatio~ he must be >"acticable in his
nlans. logical in his arguments, and
absolutely fair and consistent in his
undertakings. There is no place in the
up-to-date international trade organi-
cation for an impracticable leader
What the working man desires in his
organization is immediate returns for
himself. with the idea in view that he
is gradually and surely securing some.
thing for his posterity.
Efforts Would BE Futile.
hold that any effort to destroy the
modern organization Of labor, known
Us the trade union, or the greater cor
porations commonly called the trust
will be futile and reactionary.
Both are the result of a long period o1
~rowth and development. Both are
here. to, stay and both will continue
to develop to a most perfect state
Tt.3~ I>s~