The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-23

the idea of the convention had its in
cept1on. He hoped that the work of the
convention would be continued in the fu-
ture by some permanent organization
But for officers of the sessions to be held
this week he presented names that COM
mittee had selected.
The men SO nominated were unanimously
approved as permanent officers of the con-
vention. They were DR.. Cyrus Northrop,
chairman; j. O'Donnell, M. E. Neary, r..
B. Gilfllan. Dr.. J. s. Montgomery, J. S.
McLain and J. C. Nelson, vice chairmen
Dr. Northrop stepped forward amid the
only joyous notes of the evening-an OUT
burst of the university yell from the
threats of students.
DR.. Northrop's Address.
In the course of his address the CHAIR
man said: ...-.... -.
We are in the midst of great prosperitr.
Capital and labor are both in demand are both
abundant and for the present are both in no
condition of distress. At the same time there
Is not a little unrest and not a. little feeling
OF insecurity for the future. Some mighty con-
nlcts nave been going on, and others, no doubt.
No doubt capital has a right to combine
and, no doubt, ALSO labor has a right to com
bine. But might never yet made right, and it
never can No man has any right to live exclu-
slvely for himself, and no aggregation Of men
has any right to live exclusively for themselves.
Capital owes duty to labor. and labor owes
| q DUTY to capital
I cannot put my fingers on the absolute cause
OF contention. Under ordinary conditions capt.
tai ought to be contented with fair reward
for Its services But ordinary conditions no
longer exist, and neither labor capital is to-
day satisfied with what would be fair re-
ward but for the abnormal condition OF things
suspect that the watering of stocks the
multiplication of the millions of capital by ar.
bitrary arithmetic without adding a dollar to
the value has something to do with the trouble
and that the unrest Of labor is in large degree
occasioned by the necessity Of earning reason
able profit. not on actual capital, but on inflated
and watered capital.
This will explain why labor is so dissatisfied
with conditions that would once have been
deemed most happy. And it is not surprising
that labor should grow dsquieted over It's mod
est rewards, when capital multiplies itself at its
own sweet will and demands to-day interest on
hundred millions of stock representing precisely
! the same property that yesterday but fifty
millions.
This convention has been called in the interest
of peace and harmony. 1t is not intended to de-
nounce capital, nor to denounce labor. It IL
not intended to promote the interests Of any po-
litical party or the theories of any particular
school of economics. 1t recognizes the fact that
the present methods Of settling disputes between
labor and capital are terribly costly. opposed to
the best interests Of the people and not produc.
| tive of permanent good to any
1t desires to find some way by which strikes
and lockouts can be avoided and capital and la-
Dor work together without interruption. For
| this purpose the ablest thinkers of the country
| have been invited to attend the convention and
address 1t. Many of them have accepted and
will speak during the week. The president Of
the United States will speak the last day of the
| convention and doubt not that be will have
| much to say that will be most interesting.
! The first address of the regular pro-
gram was that by Carroll D. Wright.
United States commissioner Of labor. an
swering the inquiry: rs There Solu-
ton to the Labor Question:" Said he, in
substance:
! 1t is perfectly natural and human that men
should seek an immediate panacea for existing
/ evil John Stuart Mill has said that there is
! not any one abuse injustice by the abolish.
ment OF which the human race pass to hap
| piness How much greater are the difficulties
when we try to solve the whole range of this
mighty question. 81
The question is not how to kill or remove the
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