The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-05-16

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and therefore are made to accept less
| than the. men fors the same work.
When the sewing machine was in.
troduced by Howe In 1886, I, have heard
old tai1ors say that the direst conse-
quences were predicted, but instead Of
depriving them Of work, the machine
was the means of augmenting it. The
cost of clothing having been lessened
the consumption was vastly increased
It is estimated to-day that the average
| person wears two suits a year, while
formerly, when made by hand, an infer.
ior suit had to last year, and Otter
had to tide over another year by re.
| versing the cloth. The well known evi
of clothing manufacture are not the re.
suit Of the machine, but are due to q
perlicious system Of work. It. is sought
to remedy this condition by manufac.
turing upon large scale. The substi.
tuition Of electricity for horse power il
the operation Of street cars has imlnen
sly expanded this service. Although an
electric car goes twice as fast as the
horse car and carries at least twice az
many passengers, instead Of decreas-
ing the number Of employees, many
times that number are employed. The
patronage simply increases as the facil-
tiles for travel are improved.
There are also many undertakings
that could not be carried on at all were
it not for improved machinery, as, for
instance, great works of construction,
such as tunnels and bridges railroads
and steamships, and the erection of
large buildings. AS self evident as this
seems when attention is called to it, it
is lost sight of when discussing the
problem. The temporary loss Of en-
ployment by some is alone considered,
while the compensating features pass
unnoticed.
There are some occupations however,
where the perfection Of machinery pro-
ceeds faster thap the increased con-
sumption, and the effect, therefore, is
constantly to decrease the number of
workmen required. In such cases it is
far better for the workmen to face the
stern realities of the situation, and
make up their minds that some will
have to relieve the pressure by seeking
employment elsewhere, than by inten-
styling the distress by keeping in the
trade more than it will sustain, other
wise wages will tend to lower, or be
prevented from rising and Work will
become more unsteady. Mr.. Gompers
has explained how the situation can be
best met-by giving our young men a
general training in mechanics, so that
they can quickly adapt themselves to
the changing occupations.
Here we touch the vital question of
limitation Of output. The British
unions are charged with pursuing the
policy of limiting the product of the
members as means OF providing work
for all. The American unions are also
charged with the same tendency as
they gain in power: The answer is
that the restrictions placed upon the
speed Of the worker are intended to
prevent rushing or undue haste; that
if such was not done the quickest work.
men would be made to set the pace for
the rest, and whether : the pay be
based upon week or piece work; the
average wages Of prices.will be deter
mined by what the. most rapid work
man IS able to peri rfaa.5 Restrictions
imposed for the purpose sof correcting
abuses of that kind, are clearly JUS
t1f1able. There is, however a convic-
ton that the unions go beyond that:
that the ability to enforce such re-
straints prompts them to go further
and that they actually encourage the
members to shirk reasonable tasks.
That is, Of course denied, but there is
an inducement for them to do so, just
as there is for manufacturers, when
the opportunity offers, to create an ar
ti1cial scarsity, or for merchants to
sell inferior or adulterated goods. AS
to whether their action is right, whether
it is to their best interests, is another
question. The labor unions stand for
high principles, the groups of people
or institutions are judged by their per-
formances. 1t is the exalted aim of the
labor movement that gives it strength,
and infuses the members with the COM
mon spirit essential to it's success. They
are therefore expected to be above the
considerations that actuate others, and
they would more firmly establish them
selves in the public confidence by TAX
ing the broad economic ground, instead
of being Influenced by momentary ad-
vantages. AS they are themselves the
result of industrial development, they
cannot afford to stand in it's path.
In England the inclination to limit
work is more marked than here, be-
cause the mechanic: IS unable. to adjust
himself to varying conditions as readily.
When he enters a trade, usually that
followed by his parent, it is with the
intention Of staying in it for life. Here
workingmen are more prepared for
changes, and the division of labor. is
to>a point tfiaat enables them
more quickly to accommodate themselves
to new environments. -.
It is customary in English factories
for workne1,, when there is a short=
age to share the work with one an
other. Where this is. done to tide over
slack season it is commendable, but
where such is permanent condition,
the effect is demoralixing. The restrict
ing of output. therefore, follows as a.
policy whenever the workmen have the
power to enforce it. The result is to
limit their earning, capacity and pre-