Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-05
Labor and Capital.
the Editor Of The Evening Star:

AaOor ana Cap1tal.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In his recent letter on 1.-THE Labor Prob
lem." printed in The Star, Mr. W. G. Dodge.
like many others, confounds the terms
capital and labor with Capitalist and Ia
borer," and consequently arrives at false
conclusions. Labor. mental and muscular.
creates all wealth. and capital Is that por-
tion Of wealth used to create more wealth.
Labor and capital" therefore, are yir-
tually only different names for the same
can be any conflict" between them, But
the interests Of the laborer and the capitalist
being Numerically opposite to each other
there has been and always will be a conflict
pears from. the scene, and any effort to
reconcile them or to prove that their in
terests are the same must only prolong the
struggle. The real interest Of the capitalist
IS to secure the largest product Of the la
borer for the least expenditure Of his capt.
tai, generally in the form Of wages, while
the real interest Of the laborer Is to secure
the largest wage, or amount Of capital. for
the least expenditure of energy,
The history of this struggle shows that
with the increasing intelligence and eff
cheney Of the laborer. the exactions and
expressions of the capitalist have more than
kept pace until the endurance Of the laborer
became exhausted and there came an open
rupture. After q struggle, more or less pro-
Ionged, a compromise was effected, but al
ways with the capitalists holding the reins
OF power. In few generations the sue
ceeding capitalists became more arrogant
and overbearing. and there was another
rupture, another compromise. but the same
old result.
Today the same tactics are being en-
ployed and we see arbitration, Cancellation,
the Civic Federation and other palliatives
held out to the laborer in the hopes that 1t
will keep him quiet. But gradually the
laborer Is learning the lesson which the
ages have been trying to teach him, and now
equal opportunity Of access to the bounti-
full store house Of nature with all other per-
sons, including the capitalist, and that he
receive all the wealth that he produces.
just, are denied by the "divinely' self-ap-
pointed guardians. and the result is, ac-
cording to Mr.. Dodge, a state Of anarchy
In the mining region"
Mr. Dodge seems to think we do things
differently now from what they used to do,
when peoples and nations lived by rob-
berry and piracy" When a man takes
something for nothing, does it make any
real difference what you call it, and yet is
not that the only way in which few are
becoming possessed Of the wealth Of the
world? Why should nations wage wars of
conquest when the wars of commerce
give them the balance of trade which ac-
complishes substantially the same result
Are wars on the field of battle much more
costly than the tariff wars that are now
being fought out between the nations Of
strike, as quoted by Mr.. Dodge. $50 OOO. 900,
prove that the new way is not much Of an
Improvement on the old?
But what remedy does Mr. Dodge propose
for what all must admit is a deplorable
state OF affairs7 After proposing "tribu-
nails" which might be established 'ff the
labor men will ask for them, he throws
doubt around his own proposition by say
ing: The question that arises Is whether
such tribunals shall be established by the
national or the state legislatures" But
while this question Is being decided he SAYS
that both parties should be reasonable and
treat each other fairly and justly" Who is
to decide what is "reasonable?" and If the
there would be no trouble and consequently
no use for his tribunals.
. He says that every lahoring man must
also learn to recognize the rights Of Others"
Why should not that also apply to the
capitalist. or does Mr.. Dodge believe that
The king can do no wrongT He also says
that II the unions will appeal for justice"
labor troubles will cease: Why should they
already have it, and If 1t is being denied
to them why not seek out and punish the
guilty ones and thus end the strife? Why
not grant the just demands Of the workers
above referred to and thereby inaugurate
such vein OF peace and prosperity as the
world has never seen?
Mr.. Dodge claims that under the Con-
stitution and laws OF the country "all citi-
zens stand on an equal footing and possess
the same rights" ETC., but Is 1t not fact
that the capitalist who owns the tools of
production, as well as the source Of wealth,
has free access to both. while the poor
laborer. who owns neither. can only secure
access to either upon such terms as the
capitalist may dictate? When the terms Of
the Constitution and laws are actually
enforced. which is all that the laborer asks.
hon fHn lot hat loH.
tai, viii CEASE and not unit, tSer anq DC, cepa,
long as they are trampled under foot ana
a few are permitted to dictate to tho many,
the conflict will continue and the innocent
and unfortunate must suffer, as they are to-
day. from the effects of the coal strike
: = w. e. R0Yn