The Dolores star., 1903-10-02
CAPITAL AND LABOR HUNT TOGETHER

In the, September number of Nc
Clure's Magazine there appeared an
article under the above caption by Ray
Stannard Baker, which every one, no
matter what his station or occupation in
life, should read and carefully study.
THE STAR regrets that it has not the
space to reproduce the article in full.
After treating conditions concerning
the monopoly of capital and labor, as
united in the trusts and unions, taking
conditions in Chicago as an illustration,
Mr.. Baker says in conclusion:
1.-THE Industrial and Political Machine
1.-THE problem of these monopolies is
exactly the problem of the American
democracy. Not for moment dare we
accuse every sheet metal contractor, or
sheet metal worker, or master baker, or
journeyman baker, with dishonesty or
corruption; no more dare we accuse ev-
cry Philadelphia voter of dishonesty
because the government of his city is
unspeakably rotten. Neither is the
union or the association Illegal; no more
are agreements as to wages, hours, aud
holidays illegal. The danger lies in the
abuse of the tremendous power of these
monopolies. Here we have close mo-
nopsly in which all health-giving COM
petition is completely shut out. This
combination falls into the hands OF a
dishonest machine, exactly cornpara-
bic to the machine 80 dearly familiar
to the American political party, with
the result that corruption follows and
the public pays the bill. Indeed, the
trouble with the labor union as we'll as
the employers association today, is ex-
actly that of our political parties. The
honest, conservative, selfish, good"
citizen remains at home and plays
with his babies, while the able scalawag
runs his organization. We hear every
where in labor circles just what you
hear during political campaigns, that
the good man won't come out and vote,
won't take any interest, whereas the
bosses and their heelers are pernicious-
ly active. We now have with us the
industrial boss" He is personified in
the walking delegate, in the secretary
or manager of the employers associa-
ton; for good or for evil, his hand is
upon the industry Of the nation.
"The Menace Of these Combinations.
"Both students and men of affairs
are calling attention to these condi-
tions. Professor John Bates Clark,
Political Economist at Columbia Uni
versity, said in a lecture at Chicago on
June "A:
% The effects of the monopoly ofcapi-
tai are seen In most striking form in
trusts. There is monopoly Of labor;
not complete monopoly, but never
theless monopoly. The tendency is
for these monopolies to make terms and
strike at the consumer
"a speech delivered two days later in
Chicago by Mr.. Clarence Darrow car
ried the same meaning. Mr.. Darrow
conducted the case of the miners before
the Anthracite Coal Commission, and
he is one Of the foremost expOnents of
the trade unionist idea in America. He
said among other things:
The burden falls OH the middle
class; the large majority have no way
Of increasing their wages on their labor,
and in this mad rush the middleman
and the consumer are forgotten and
they get the worst of it.
Il view with uneasiness the friendly
feeling that some of the big corpora
tions are expressing for the trades
unions.
'Of course ]. P. Morgan believes in
big things. He sees that it is economy
to deal with working-men as a body
rather than with individuals, He
doesn't care how much he has to pay,
because he understands that you can't
mark up the price of labor as fast as
he can mark up the price ofsteel. But
they are getting nothing in return. 1t
Is the same in every line where labor
and capital are getting along peaceabiy.
s"These new combinations, of course,
suggest to every student of the history
Of economics the guilds Of the older
England and France, in which the
masters and the men In the various
trades were closely united, and indus.
try was arrayed against industry.
Similar combinations have also appear.
ed in recent years among some Of the
highly unionised industries Of Eng
land, notably in certain branches o.
the furniture trade Of Birmingham.
- quits LIKELY THAT Hard times,