The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-05
ON LABOR'S SIDE.
Senator Henley Wealthy Law
renee Man, Discusses Unions.
Delivers Straight-Arm Blows in
Face of Capital.
ODIUM OF STRIKES.
Examples Of LaWlessness Set by
Great Corporations.
Responsible for Compelling Men
to Demand Fair Wages.
ODIUM OF STRIKES.

Lawrence, Kas., Dec. 5.-A paper on
the subject of 1.-THE Laborer and the
Capitalist" read by Senator A. Henley
before the Saturday Night club of this
city is causing considerable comment.
Aside from being q wealthy man and
an employer of labor. Senator Henley
| is. known as the Gypsum King of
Kansas.
Senator Henley takes an advanced
view of the labor situation in its re-
lation to capital. His paper follows:
I present this paper with consider
able trepidation, not being entirely sure
of my position, but believing that a
fair and candid discussion of the sub
ject NAV lead to some good result. It
has been comparatively a short time
since the laborers of this country be-
gan making an organized offert to con-
troll the marketing Of their labor. Be
fore that employers looked upon the
laboring men as their rightful prey
whom they might fall upon and devour
at pleasure. Whenever business was
improbable or for any reason they
wished to increase the profits. the first
thing to do was to cut down the work.
mems wages. The laborer had no
remedy. He must accept the reduction
or give up his job. But things have
changed. Labor unions have been Or
ganized. and now the men stand to-
gether, demanding what they believe
living wages, and the employer must
pay it or face a strike involving great
loss and probably the increased pay in
volved in the unions, but all aim at the
one thing-an increase of wages.
1 believe that this is as it should be,
and while there~are many things in
the methods of labor unions which can
not be defended. yet. on the whole I
think them right.
I4ABORERS MORE IMPORTANT.
This is democratic country; its gov
eminent is ''of the people. by the peo-
pie, for the people" Its business
should be managed by the people for
the people. Whatever is for the gem
eral good is right. The real question
the general welfare. Now the laborers
are vastly greater in numbers than
their employers therefore their well
fare IS matter 5of much more imporG
lance than is that of their employers.
Whatever may be ones personal inter-
estS in the matter. the patriotic and
human standpoint is that of the well
fare of the whole people. The employ
the laborerss are not either, but they
come much nearer being than do the
employers, and their welfare is there
fore of mora innporr3f1ce Fas.ssss
They must then have fair wages 1t
Is not fair wage which simply feeds,
shelters and clothes man. He should
have a home and enough to enable
him to obtain some education and some
of the refinements of life. Poverty be-
low certain point means not only dis
comfort but encouragement, ignor-
ance, vice and physical weakness for
himself and his children. The product
OF industry in this country is sufficient
to give all connected with it the condi-
tons of comfort and we'll being. The
tendency of business is to make a few
very rich and the masses very poor,
condition equally harmful for both
classes.
The question is to bring about a fair
division of the products of industry, 1t
is human nature for each one to get
all he can. The employer tries to see
how much of the profit of the business
he can get, and the laborer how much
he can get. But the employer has the
advantage. Generally speaking the
employer is corporation having a
large eaDital. and it has the advantage
in two ways. 1t is a combinat ton of
many different people having capital.
and therefore of many different de-
mands for labor. IF they had not COM
b1ned but each started a plant for him
self, they might go into the market