The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-01-16

Gives the Opinion That Private
Ownership Is Responsible for the
Evils.
Cleveland, Ohio, Jan'y 14.-The Cleve-
land Citizen, one of the foremost labor
papers in America in it's current issue,
in referring to J. J. Hills attack on
organized labor says:
Some months ago organized labor
throughout the country was stirred by
speech delivered at a banquet by
James j. Hill, the great railway mag
nate, in which he charged, among 9TH
er things:
las labor unions killed England so
they are destined to bring on great in
jury to the United States, and the
country is rapidly approaching the
crisis. 1t may come in year, it may
he deferred to the Presidential year,
but it is bound to GOMEZ
About the same time this statement
was made by Mr.. Hill several Chicago
bankers, including Charles L. Hutchin-
son, made similar remarks. These,
with letter explaining their effect,
were sent out by the Chicago Feder-
alton Of Labor to twenty-four men,
Who represent the various phases of
economic thought, with the request
that thehy express their views as to
the truth or falsity Of the above pluto
cratic statements. The plan was to
include in the list representatives of
the trades unionists, single takers, an
archists, socialists and communists. In
SlIhmiffinp bo
having the matter in charge states
that all replies received agree on the
great primary cause of industrial de-
preston, i. e., inequitable distribution
of wealth. The following excerpts
from letters are quoted to substantiate
the committees statement:
Sir Charles Dike-Mr. Hills state
ment taht labor unions have killed in
dustrial England is absurd. Capital
and labor here are agreed as far as
their most intelligent representatives
are concerned in favor of peaceful or
ganization by both sides.
George Francis Train-Hill built the
Great Northern without cash or land to
start with, and for that he deserves
credit. He is wrong, though, when he
blames trade unionists. TO insure good
times the Workinmen must break par
ty ties and insist upon getting their
dues.
William Lloyd Garrison - Henry
Georges explanation of Industrial pan
les seems to me to be the true one, and
I cannot add anything to it,
Ernest H. Crosby-I believe that in
dustrial panics arise from a defective
ict. shrrfS IT.
BY forcing our products. upon the
isles. off, the*zseas at: the :point$yof the
bayonet we may postpone the smash
up here for a year, but it is bound to
come. Safety in the future depends up
on the diminution of the share Of the
stockholder and speculator and the in
crease of that of the worker. AS trades
unionism works directly toward this,
[ regard it not as cause of panics,
but as safeguard against them.
John Burn-I advise that such steps
will be taken as will prevent the re-
currence Of crises which collective pro-
ductino of wealth creates when unac-
companied by collective control of it's
distribution.
Lawson M. Purdy-Any means by
which wealth is diverted from it's pro-
ducers to the financial parasites of this
country tends to produce industrial de-
pressions.
Professor George D. Herron-The
exploitation OF labor by the huge world
parasites on the one hand as a pro-
Queer and on the other as a consumer
regularly brings about the destruction
of its own markets by capital.
Edward Carpenter-It is easy to
prove that when the working masses
get in wages the full value of what
they produce industrial depression
practically can not occur. When they
get in wages only a fraction of the
same value industrial depression must
| occur. Other causes can only super
ficially affect the matter
! Prince Krapotin-There is a great
chance for book to be printed upon
the relations of capital and labor IN
America. I should be glad to write a
general treatise upon the matter if
| proper materials could be forwarded to
me.
In summing up the committee de-
clares that it's own beliefs coincide
with those Of the letter writer's and as
=
! dustrial panics possible are bolstered
| up by the private ownership of Ian
! the private ownership Of social pro-
duction and the power of taxation.
The Chicago Federation of Labor has
| referred the results Of it's investiga-
| tions to the A. F. of l.. with the request
that the same be printed in pamphlet
form and distributed among the trades
unions Of the country.
While the Chicago central body, al
ter clearly diagnosing the cause of in
dustrial depression, offers no recon-
mendation as to the proper procedure
to prevent their recurrence, still the
organization should be given due credit
for the investigation that it started
and which will no doubt lead to wide
spread discussion Of political and econ
omic questions among the workers.
In all probability, too, the Chicago
Federation of Labor will be roundly
denounced by those who fatten upo,
tn etoil of labor for aiding in propo-
| gazing "S0ci9 1is:fio horasioclD no,,,..