The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-10
LESSONS FROM
The COAL STRIKE
Address by Prof. Gunton Be-
fore Congregational Club.
ORGANIZATION Is NECESSARY:
Large Corporations and Labor Unions Are
Here 10 Stay, and Should Act
In Harmony.
ORGANIZATION IS NECESSARY:

The February meeting OF the Congre-
gational club was held at the Trocadero
last evening the occasion being one OF
the most successful held by the club for
some time. About i76 members and guests
assembled, included In the number heing
ton, including Rev. J. j. Woolley, vice
president OF the club. Rev. J. III. Lyon.
former president, and others.
Seated at the head table were a num-
ber OF the most prominent members of
the denomination in the state A social
hour was enjoyed from until In the
parlors OF the Trocadero.
Invocation was made by Rev. A. 8.
Hawkes. and an excellent banquet par
taken Of Following the banquet Rev. j.
III. Lyon made a prayer, this being fol-
lowed by the business meeting at which
the following new members were elected:
Charles W. Bubier, Central church
Henry II. French, Pilgrim church: f. c.
Gledhill Benefcent church: William II.
Kenerson, Union church: Daniel s. Park
hurst. Benefcent church; Edward G..
Parkhurst. Benencent church: Arthur NJ.
Read, Pilgrim church: Chester c. Waters.
Pilgrim church.
Arthur b. Barden and M. w. Bosrord of
the Edgewood church and David A. Corey
Of the same church were proposed for
membership and went over to the next
meeting.
The speaker Of the evening was Prof
George Gunton OF New York. the author
Of Heath and Progress" Principles of
Social Economics" Trusts and the Pub
lic," etc. and is also the editor OF Gun
tons Magazine
Prof. Gunton was born in England
1s45, but has been a resident OF this coun-
try since 1874. He has made close study
OF industrial questions In both countries.
and since 1880 has been president or the
Institute OF Social Economics In New
York city.
Professor Gunton Is very pleasing
speaker and his remarks were most in
teresting. his subject being. Some Less
sons from the Coal Strike" He said in
part:
PROFITABLE LESSON.
''The recent coal strike afforded les
son from which everybody can profit and
take some part Of 1t to himself. The
problem Of capital and labor Is one OF the
most important Of the age and the recent
strike takes prominent part In the
problem.
Being as Il is, the greatest and most
extraordinary industrial conflict that has
ever been inaugurated in any country in
the history Of the world between capital
and labor, its bearing on the problem IL
great. So extensive was II and so long
drawn out that nearly every phase of
strike was shown.
1T gave US a great combination OF cor
porations on one hand and laborers %
the other. 1t really made a dent in pub
lie experience. All consumers know
something about the coal strike. The
consequences Of the disagreement were
carried into almost every home and fac
tory.
The public has learned that the quar-
rel between capital and labor is no longer
limited TO the two engaged In the conflict.
The questions should be tested from the
point OF view of the public Capitalists
are OF no particular concern to civilza-
ton except as they minister to cheapen-
ing the price and improving the quality
OF the goods and appliances OF civilza-
tion.
Tho strike should be considered from
the point OF view of society. Sympathy
In matters OF this kind is not near as
good az knowledge The important thing
In this thing is the intelligence of public
opinion. Neither the capitalists nor the
laborers have any patience with ignor-
ance. President Eliot OF Harvard ought
to have reached the stage when he knows
enough not to talk unless he knows what
he is talking about
IF We are going TO exercise any whole
facts as they are We are in n period
transitional between individual and or
Ranized enterprise. There may be irrita-
ton caused. but things are going that
way and we had better recognize the fact
Individual EFFORT is giving place to or
ganized effort We couldn't have our
railroads and electric lights IL we didn't
have corporate enterprise. Large cor
porations are giving us thing. we
couldn't get without them. Whatever
their defects they are here to- stay. The
attitude should be 10 understand rather
than to antagonize. There Is no power
left OF freedom Of contract
1T IL not possible for the weavers OF
the Blackstone Valley TO make individual
contracts. The factory starts at a GER
"a N hour I'm the morning and II n a part
OF the economy or the system that all
work at once. The laborers can't act In
dividually: they must act collectively.
The price per cut is 30 much for all the
weavers The hours are the same for all
The labarers found out that IN they want
TO make any change they must make IL
as body.
oRGANIzATtoN THE RESULT.
The result was organization Just as
literally as the corporations. II was nee
essary as n mere bargain making func-
tion. The employers have not vet learned
20 recognize that fact. Capital and labor
do not understand each other. The coal
strike IL an example Of the fact that or
ganisation is the only rational and effec-
tive method Of negotiation. IL has .tim-
ulated the feeling toward socialism more
than any other one event In % years
There IL nothing 20 unrea sonable a.