The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-02
RELATIVE RIGHTS OF
CAPITAL AND LABOR
Commissioner Garfield on
Their Adjustment.
FRANK DEALING ESSENTIAL
Publicity of Operations on One Hand
and Recognition of the Right to
Work on the Other.

James r. Garfield, son OF the late
President Garfield, and Commissioners
Of the Bureau of Corporations, last
night delivered q lecture before the
Mems Club OF the northeast section. in
4OS H Street northeast. His subject was
tho proper adjustment of relations be-
tween capital and labor. For more than
an hour Mr.. Garfield spoke on this sub
1ect, at once so complex and SO fraught
with interest to Americans Clearly
and logically ne outlined his argument,
and said it was his opinion that only
when labor and capital realize that
their obligations to each other must
take precedence OF their individual
rights, and only when the conditions of
living. on the one hand, and a clear
statement of the business profits, on the
other. are frankly set forth, will the
proper adjustment of relations between
tie two be obtained.
Mr.. Garfield opened his address by
telling the history Of the rise and de-
velcpment of the struggle between labor
ana capital in England.
Problem Becomes Complex.
In America" he said I'VE have
done in hundred years what England
has done in twice that time. In this
We have had the advantage of their mis-
takes and of their successes. At first
there was room for all, but competi-
ton became strong. corporations were
formed, and found, in turn, that they,
TOO were swept into fierce struggle
for existence. After the manner of
human nature, they turned to the
easiest way out of their trouble.
This way was. in most cases, unfair
contracts were violated, pools formed
and these. too. misused; fictitious cor
porations were created and controlled
By the corporate bodies Might was
made right. Thus the corporations over
stepped the law and did great wrong
OF which they are row reaping the prod
uct
Labor Organized for Defense.
The corporations gained control of
transportation, of the stores, in fact, of
all the means of commerce. Labor was
crushed. 1t was necessary to meet this
attack and labor organized AT first
the unions sought only mutual benefit
and protection. A high standard of la
boz was set. Finally. driven to despera-
ton and misled, labor also went out
side the law. II is true labor has right
10 strike and capital has a right to shut
down its works. The confi-t came after
this Capital had the means TO continue
o mr.
The unions objected TO this, said no. and
thereby broke the law Labor failed
TO realize the underlying principle of
government, that every man has a right
to work if he wishes and for whom and
for what he wishes.
Corporations now feel 1t is necessary
TO obey the law. They have reached this |
stage of development much more quick
iy than labor, because they had the
means of life-which is not the case
with the laborer. But labor will even
Iualiy come TO the conviction that il |
must abide by the law.
Combined capital and labor must |
exist side by side. We can not have a |
condition of affairs good for the one and |
not good for the other.
What we call primal rights depend |
upon our obligations to others. The |
445l-t u ne OL the INDIVIDUAL man de- !
ponds upon his relation 10 others. The |
se-called right OF suffrage is misnamed: |
suffrage is the highest duty imposed |
upon citizens of the United States Or |
gained labor must recognize the obliga- |
ton it has TO permit every other laborer |
TO labor. Capital must recognize the |
obligation it has TO give a fair share |
OF its profits 10 labor
Mutual Concessions.
Before either labor or capital will
recognize these obligations, a frank and
clear statement must be made by both /
sides. Labor must tell what it is doing, /
and what 1t requires, for livelihood /
Capital must tell how great its profit is, /
and what its business is. When these
facts are made known. 1t will be pos /
sible TO judge from the other mans
point of view-and not till then.
''At present there is more misunder-
standing than understanding. Many !
men do not wish 10 know the facts Their /
capital is ignorance"
At the close of Mr.. Garield's speech /
he requested his audience TO question |,
him upon any points that he had not |.
made clear. One of the many ques-
lions asked was: II the corporations /
are legal bodies formed under the law |.
and IL the unions which are not cor
porate bodies are illegal? Another
was: Is IL lawful to compel the la
borer 10 buy from the stores Of the
corporation for which he is working?