The Washington times., 1904-05-14
Labor and Law.
Relations of Employer and Employe
Economic and Ethical.
success.

Relations of Employer and Employe
Economic and Ethical.
The gradual change that is taking
place in the thought of progressive
employers regarding the organization
of employees is well shown by the
words of counsel given by President
Heath of the Cotton Manufacturers
Association at the convention in this
city. Said he:
The right of labor to organize is
equal to the right of capital to COM
bine. We must admit their right to
accept or reject prices offered them. -
This, OF course, is primitive justice,
but the fact nevertheless remains
that even today this right is Ques-
toned and even opposed by certain
employers who have failed to keep
up with the procession Of events.
But President Heath is also right
when he declares:
They have acquired wonderful
power on account of organization. and
large numbers appear to be putting
this power to dangerous uses, and are
becoming dangerous, not only to their
original purpose. but to our very
Government itself"
The abstract principle that any
man has a right to work where
he can get job. and that no
man nor organization of men has any
business to abridge that right, will
be frankly granted. as will the right
OF an employer to hire whom he
pleases for any price that he cares to
pay.
However, as is always the case
when the relations between man and
man become complicated. 1t Is found
that abstract principles have to be
modified to meet concrete cases. This
is not because the abstract principles
are necessarily wrong, but because
men in their mutual relations permit
selfishness. greediness, injustice, and
laziness to motive their actions.
After declaring that a uniform law
would not equalize conditions, Presi-
dent Heath's only remedial advice is
to stand for liberty and equality, for
prosperity at home and conquests
abroad, and undertake greater things
for greater America.
That may do very well for ideal,
for it seems to beg the more i'm
portant issue, which is the method
to be used in attaining this ideal.
Men are apt to mistake their rela-
tons with their fellow men by re-
garding them as entirely economic.
AS a matter of fact. the economic
relation so blends with the ethical
that the two aretinseparable.
While crying aloud over the
tyranny of labor unions. employers
are apt to forget that it was the
tyranny of employers which first
caused laborers to unite for mutual
protection. Injustice always breeds
injustice, and consequently employ
ers as a class are merely reaping the
fruits of their own sowing. The
memory of their own shortcomings
should make them charitable toward
the shortcomings of others.
President Heath declares that no
uniform law will meet the situation.
That is true. If he limits law TO a
regulation on the statute books of the
nation.
But law is broader than that.
II comprehends the eternal govern
ment of good, which is the ultimate
of perfection. One fundamental law
of good is succinctly stated IN that
ethical truism known as the Golden
Rule. If all men. employers and en-
ployes, were TO obey that law in all
their dealings with each other, they
would find il a veritable panacea for
every difficulty.