Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-03-14
INJUSTICE TO LABOR.

contends that it is inadequately |
rewarded. This is an old con-
tention and it has never been
without just reason, if we look
for the reason in the fact that
labor does not receive just share
of the profits arising from the
united efforts of capital and
labor.
It is true that sometimes and
for periods labor has been exceed
ingly we'll paid while the capi-
tai employed has not nearly earn
ed the ordinary rate of interest;
but this is a condition capital
will not long endure.
It is no argument against this
assertion of labor that it was
never more fully employed and
so we'll remunerated as now.
While this is true it is equally
true that capital never found it
easier to establish profitable en-
terprises, and never gathered
such golden rewards as now
The prosperity of our people on
all lines of industrial activity was
never so general as at present.
The outcome of this prosperity
bears the suggestion that the new
industrial conditions from which
it springs have not Injured to the
benefit of the workingman to the
extent they should. In the man
ufacturing world, especially, we
see mighty combinations of capi-
tai formed under the names OF
syndicates, corporations, trusts.
1t is true that the prime purpose
in forming these has been to
economic the cost of production
and distribution of the finished
commodity. 1t is also true this
has been done and a high wage
scale has been maintained. In
deed, in many instances the wage
scale has been advanced, yet the
contention remains that the work.
ingman has not been proportion
ate1y benefited. AS evidence O.
this he points to the fact tha
men with comparatively little
capital invested in such combina
tions rapidly amass wealth, Sc
that in a few years they may re
tire from business with an ample
competence, possibly the posesso
of great wealth. The working
man, however, finds that he ha
reached the age of forty-hve o
fifty and SO has fallen below th'
standard of efficiency required b,
the new industrial conditions
His earning capacity has deterio
rated. He no longer has the re
quisite, nerve, snap, endurance
He finds himself crowded to th'
wall by younger men.
Most fortunate, indeed, is he i
"with thrift and a good wife t.
manage" as Mr.. Carnegie put
it, he finds himself the owner o
his modest cottage, but sans banl
account, and holding no certifi
Gates of handsome dividend-pav
ing stocks. His life of toll, ever
with industry and thrift, ha!
given him little more than mere
ly a subsistence.
Small wonder if under these
conditions he sometimes turns te
socialism, is almost persuaded te
embrace anarchy in search O.
more nearly equal conditions.
A brighter day is dawning,
Strikes, lock-outs, mad assault:
upon capital and its wise comb.
nations, unthinking attacks on
the very instrumentalities which
have wrought our prosperity are
giving place to spirit of amity
between capital and labor spring
ing out of recognized unity Of
interest.
Voluntary arbitration of differ.
ences, participation in the profits
of business to supplement liberal
wages are already at work. These
are the presage of better thing:
to follow.
The contest has been long anc
bitter, but the end is in sight
The laborer needs but exercise
patience. and careful intelligence
He is in sympathetic touch with
the world, and will be accorded
justice. Never before have Sc
many men heartily believed thai
"The laborer is worthy of hi:
hire" and held to this view in
the spirit of its first utterance.