The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1903-04-15
Commissioner of Labor Tells
Manufacturers Associa-
ton a Few Facts.
BETTER SPIRIT PERvADES
THE MIND OF REPUBLIC
Thinks the Future viii See a Solution
Of Some Of the Evils Of the Present.
Working Man VIII Learn Not to Strike
as He More Clearly Understands Con-
ditions-A Conservative Speech.
NY ASSOCIATED PRESS.

ny ASSOCIATED PRESS.
New Orleans, April I5.-Interest in
todays session OF the National Manu-
facturers' association centered in the res
olutions committee which was expected to
result in a definite understanding as to
the attitude the association would take
toward organized labor. 1t is expected
the report will not be made until late
this afternoon.
When the forenoon session was called
to order, Honorable Carroll d. Wright,
United States commissioner Of labor, was
introduced and given a hearty reception.
President Roosevelt had been invited
to attend and in declining named Mr..
Wright to represent him.
Mr.. Wright, speaking of organized
labor, said, in part: "rhe combination
has in ii all the elements of the cor
poration, for it is simply an enlarged
corporation, embracing more elements,
more factors, and therefore it is more
powerful for good or evil than the cor
poration OF quarter of century ago.
Democratize Industry.
'But it recognizes in its development
an effort TO democratize industry Like
a great department, it democratizes the
handling Of goods and enables the pur-
chaser to secure in one place all that he
may need in his shopping tour.
'The great combination enables society
to secure its commodities on a more stable
basis than under the previous methods.
Its evils are those of management and
not of constitution. These evils may be
handled by law and by society. We need
not fear them, for when the combination
does not seek the common good and does
not accomplish by its goods and by kits
machinery Of production and distribution
the welfare of society, society will care
for the matter. II is the result of the de-
velopment of the idea of associated force
and therefore under il industry has Sc
cured greater power than it has ever re-
ceived. Conversely, the single working
man, working by the side OF his employer,
was his employers personal associate |;
but as the employer developed into the
firm and the firm into the corporation and
the corporation into the combination, the
single workingman has developed along
side lines. He became the employe of the
firm with larger number of fellow
workmen then he became the employe of
the corporation and the personal relation
that previously existed was weakened or
severed. Now he is grouped as the fell
low employe of thousands and thousands
under the great combination where lac is
still further removed in a personal way
from his employer
Depends on Attitude.
"Does this mean harm or does il mean
good? The answer to this question do
pends entirely upon the attitude of the
two parties in the new relation. Capital
may receive now and then an exorbisant
increase in the way of profits or of in
terest, and wages may be raised or de-
pressed artiiicially, but under all normal
conditions the profit to capital and the
remuneration to labor will be regulated
by positive economic laws but these laws
are more elastic than natural laws, and
hence disturbances, misunderstanding and
bitterness arise. On the whole, however,
the remuneration to capital is constantly
decreasing and that to labor constantly
increasing. This is the result, so far as
capital is concerned, of the accumulation
of wealth which may be turned into active
and productive capacity, and, so far as
wages are concerned, to the increased
standard of living resulting from educa-
tion and culture which follow.
A Better Sentiment.
"The growth of the sentiment under
lying the principles of justice outlined
belongs more thoroughly to the present
than to any preceding age and will over
come the labor difficulties which harass
the public, injure the workman and dam
age capital. With the ethical spirit find
ing lodgment the antagonisms and the
animosities will be softened if not re-
moved.
The workingman has risen from ig-
norance to intelligence and as he has
reached intelligence he has become more
or less a greater complication in indus
trial affairs. In his ignorance he did
not strike. In his intelligence he does
strike. The next step in the develop
ment of his intelligence will be that he
will not strike; that he will be able to
accommodate himself to conditions, be-
cause he will know them and understand
them better. He will be able to recog-
nize his rights in relation to the rights
OF others, and to know fully what is neces-
sary for successful production where now
he only understands part. That means,
of course, the organization, the contin-
aahNNb Vic pSilSStioi OI UNIONS.
Some Methods Condemned.
Some of the methods of labor unions
are to be condemned. So are some of
the methods of the capitalistic organiza-
tions to be condemned, but because they
cannot get on together does not mean
that either or both should be destroyed
They must get on together. This is the
necessity of the time, and it is to the
intelligence of the leaders of both parties
that society looks for the development of
industry on basis of social progress
The great question for the employer and
employe is will they, insthe conduct of
their mutual affairs excite the militant
spirit or invoke that peaceful considera-
ton which leads to the ADDITION of the
highest elements of business interests"