The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-15

opportunities for American wageworker
to become a capitalist are closed, but
whether the average wage worker has
made up his mind that he must remain a
wage worker or not; no matter what his
hopes, aspirations or ambitions may be, the
average wage worker must remain wage
rights. but they are not created with equal
ability or equal opportunities. Some men
are endowed with great mental faculties,
but are lacking in energy. Some have
smaller brain power, but overcome the de-
ficiency by persistent work, while others
have massive intellectual capacity and suf-
ficient physical activity to make their in
telligence effective. The latter class are
the men who, when the opportunity comes
to them, become the masters of industry
and commerce-the Morgans, Rockefellers.
Carnegies and Schwabs of our everyday
life. No one will contend that all wage
workers, or for that part of the matter all
business men, belong to this class and could
handle large affairs even If the opportunity
came to them. Neither will they contend
that the opportunity comes to every man
to handle large affairs who is endowed
with the ability to do so. Even if ali men
were created with equal ability it would be
impossible for them to have equal opportu-
mites. Suppose that every man in the iron
and steel business had equal abilities and
equal opportunities with Mr.. Schwab, and
they had all become presidents of the
United States Steel Corporation who would
make the iron and steel necessary for the
worlds use. AS a matter of fact the aver
age wage worker must continue to be
wage worker. and In the future. II has
been in the past, it will only be the excep-
tional and not the average man who will
rise from the ranks
Mr.. Mitchell. in a chapter on ''The Case
Against the Trade Union" states his posi-
ton in his usual fair and lucid manner. 1
quote as follows:
1T is frequently urged against trade
unionism that there have always been men
who have risen from the ranks without
the aid of any labor organization. The
workmen, therefore. they believe should be
acvad nf m infr fha f,y1inr lr,tt
tempt to do as these successful individuals
have done-earn for themselves an excep-
tional position in society. The error of this
way of thinking is the ordinary mistake of
believing that what any one can do all can
do. Any natural-born American boy may
become President of the United States, but
ii is not possible for all of them to do go
In the same way IL is possible that one out
of every hundred or of every thousand
workmen will rise from the ranks and that
one out of every million can become
Schwab or a Carnegie. But for the great
majority this hope is as ilusory as that of
finding a fortune in the streets or of win
ming the first prize in a lottery. 1t must be
admitted that while trade unions can and
do assist the exceptionally able workman
it is not absolutely and entirely essential to
him. The trade union appeals TO the great
mass of skillful, sober, Industrious work
men who are a credit to the trade, but a
| great majority of whom have no hope of
rising out of their present class. What the
| trade union seeks TO do is not to enable
| carpenters, machinists or tracklayers to be-
| come railway presidents or bankers, but to
render more favorable and more humane
| their conditions in the trades in which
| they already work"
1t viii thus be seen that Mr.. Mitchell has
| not contended that the opportunities for
advancement are closed or that the aver
age American wage worker is incapable of
| rising above his present condition. His
| statements are based merely upon the fact.
which the wage workers now very gener-
| ally recognize, that under any condition of
| society the worker, mental or physical
A
people. w. b. WILSON.
| Indianapolis, Oct. 13.