Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-09-18

OF labor has proved beneficial. but to
very limited extent. AS for arbitra-
tion, while / am favorable to the sys-
tenn ia adjusting differences between
the employer and the employees, yet
/ cannot see in 1t a solution. Arbi-
tration means simply the interference
of the public in the relations OF the
employer and the employed. When
these relations, as In the case OF great
strikes, reach point where they in-
terfere with the general welfare, soci-
ETY. hasa right to say what shall be done
In the matter. But law has always
failed to adjust wages and its efforts 10
that direction have done more harm
than good. The methods enumerated
are minor remedies, all good as helps,
but none amounting to a solution.
Much of the harm resulting from a
necessary reduction of wages consists
10 the spirit of suspicion engendered.
The worker fights against the cut be-
cause he knows that he must fight
again for an increase.
The single tax doctrine and nation
alism are questions too vast for dis
cussion But it is safe to say that
when the single tax advocate can de-
monstrate to US that one half or even
one tenth OF the benefits they claim
for their system are practicable, we
will all gladly become single takers.
Socialism is the most ambitious
remedy that has been offered. Social
ism cannot be well defined. 1t has
been likened to great rubber band,
which may be stretched and stretch
ed until it seems to compass the whole
of society, but finally it reaches the
point where the strain is TO great and
it gives way altogether. Falrman a
writer Of the Fabian school, says that
socialism is not method, not yet
system, but that 1t Is criticism. So
cialism is a question OF quantity. APP
piled to individual character and con-
duct, it gives much of good, but it
will not admit to large application.
Socialism is not vital principal,
because it has no God IN it. 1t en-
bodies no God because 1t does not rec
ognize the Godgiven qualities in hu-
man nature: II is not constructive
force. 1t has no justice, no humanity,
no progress.
The decalogue is as good labor
platform as any. In religion we find
the highest form of solution yet offer
ed. Next to religion comes construc-
tive evolution-that evolution which
believes in the potency of effort. The
economic man is growing into the CO.
ordinate man. We are TO have new
law of wages, grown out Of religious
thought. The old struggle was for
existance, the new struggle Is for a
wider spiritual margin. The applica-
tion of this religious idea is the so!u-
tion of the whole labor problem. The
question must be placed on the altru-
istic basis. Mans average OF conduct
is not better than his character. His
treatment of his fellows is consistent
with his eense of justice.
Out OF this new struggle is growing
a new political economy. 1t holds ali
Things contained in the old, but there
are many additions. The new econ
omy looks largely to the care and COM
fort Of men. The new religion is one
OF progress, and one Of its results will
be the alliance Of ethics and econom.
les. Religion forecasts the social
destiny of man. The remedy may af-
feet relief but not a cure. There
is to be continual struggle, Let us
soften that struggle as best we may.
This position reaches in the coming
revival of religion which shall hold
in its power the church, industry,
commerce and the social fabric.
Whoever aids the struggle for higher
standards in rational ways is the
friend of humanity; whoever retards
it by irrational ways is the enemy OF
humanity.