Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-14
MR.. ANDERSON'S PAPER
RELATION OF CAPITAL TO LABOR
DISCUSSED.
The Trusts and the Trades Un,ou
Placed in the Same
Category.

BOSTON, May 14-The general meetings
of 1903 of the American Social Science As
socfation began here today. The program
covers a session Saturday morning and the
discussions scheduled are in the depart
ments of Social Economy today, OF
Health and of Jurisprudence tomor-
row and of Education and Art Saturday.
The speakers assigned are persons OF
prominence in various branches OF profess
sional and scientific activity in the United
States mainly from Boston and vicinity.
The principal speakers today were George
H. Anderson and Lewis d. Brandeis lead
ing members of the Suffolk county (Mass)
bar. and Prof. Eugene wambaugh of the
Harvard law school.
Mr. Anderson spoke on "Some Respon-
sibilities of Capitalistic Organization" He
said in part:
Mr.. Anderson's Paper.
"In considering some of the responsible
ties of capitalistic organization 1t is not
to be overlooked that the career of the
labor organizations has not been marked
by any such love of wisdom. justice and
fair dealing as to evoke our moral enthu-
siasm Nor have the labor organiZa tons
any moral standing to denounce trusts, for
their movement is as distinctly combina-
ton or trust is the capitalistic move
ment. The two movements are like in mo-
tive and object
I'm the contest as it is now carried on be-
tween these two opposing forces II is ob-
vious that there are at least two main de-
siderata. First, that the parties to the
contest should become nearly equal In
real and apparent power that each may
come to respect the other. to the end that
an equilibrium approXimating justice may
result The organization of labor is an alb
Solute condition precedent under present
conditions to anv sound social and indus
trial progress. To oppose that organiza-
ton, to attempt to prevent it by legislation,
or to denounce 1t in terms recently used at
the Manufacturers Association at New Or
leans, is both futile and foolish.
Final Appeal to Justice.
1.-THE second desderata is that there
should be an increased respect for law and
for justice the part of both labor and
capital. The final appeal must be to JUS
tice.
I'm weighing the power of the two con-
tending forces nothing is more foolish and
misleading than comparison of wages
with interest and dividend rates, for the
purpose of determining the share received
by labor in the joint product of both"
He declared that 1t did not follow that
the remedy is to be found in such legisla-
ton as the Sherman act 1t was law far
more likely to be abused than used. Under
our law permitting the private ownership
not only Of the surface of the land, but OF
all minerals ana metals beneath the sur
face, the coal and iron supply of the coun-
try would soon be entirely under monopoly
control. The condition of the ownership
and control of the anthracite coal supply
he continued. was Just cause for revolu-
tionary sentiments and activities. The
main object to trust combinations was in
their enormous overcapitalization and in
the use that is made of that overcapitaliEa-
ton. In the last generation he declared
the legislation of the country had been
mainly controlled by capital, and in not .
few Of the states the sale Of legislation
was a regular business In conclusion,
Mr.. Anderson said:
His Summing Up.
ut is one Of the present responsibilities
of capitalistic organization to undo the
evil 1t has wrought-to teach the voters
that the powers of the ballot box and Of
the legislative hall are to be held and ex-
ercised as a sacred trust for the benefit
of the community as a whole. II capital
fails to recognize the necessity of just laws,
respected and obeyed, 1t may expect little
mercy at the hands of it's adyersaries when
they discover their real power. If social
ism comes. the main responsibility will rest
upon the capftalstic organizations