The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-23
HANNA'S PLAN.
TO Make Organized Labor the
Ally Of Capital.
Desires to Consecrate His Re-
naming Years to the Work.
TWO JOBS TO THE MAN.
He Says Industrial Conditions
Have Been Reversed.
Regards Socialism as the Menace
Of Our Time.

Boston, Jan. Ex-senator Hanna con-
tributes to the February number of the
National magazine of this city an ar
ticle on Socialism and Labor Unions
After expressing his belief in the power
of education over the American peo-
pie and declaring the basis of right
success is fairness and justice, Senator
Hanna writes:
''There is no more engrossing ques-
ton than that of relation between labor
and capital. which seems the para
mount issue today. The instinct of
working men to band together to pro-
tect themselves is no more to be Won
dered at than the same instinct on the
part of capital. Now my plan is to
have organized union labor American
lied in the best sense and thoroughly
educated to an understanding of its
responsibility, and in this way to make
1t the ally of the capitalist, rather than
a foe with which to grapple.
1T is often asked what is to become
of the nOn-Organized consumer If an
amicable alliance is made between cap
ital and labor. But every man belongs
to one or the other group for that mat
ter he is likely to belong to both
L took some time to consider the
work of the Civic Federation, and am
firmly convinced that it is the object
TO which 1 desire to consecrate the re-
naming years of my life. l fully APP
preciate that it is a long struggle. but
the progress already made under the
motto of the Civic Federation-the
Golden Rule-has surpassed even my
most sanguine expectations, and ! am
sure that the American people will Sus-
tain a policy based upon the highest
moral and social impulse which will
eliminate the passionate prejudice that
now exists between capital and labor. "
Discussing some of the objects of the
Civic Federation, Senator Hanna
writes:
Until within a comparatively few
years big capitalists or the employing
interests have had the advantage be-
cause there were more workmen than
there was work. But conditions have
changed, and for every workman, on an
average, there are two Jobs now in the
heyday of our prosperity. and it is ex-
pect1ng too much of human nature to
suppose that working men shall not de-
sire a larger share of the profits. Has
not this motive been the stimulating
incentive of the men who are making
business affairs. No one who is &C
qHainted with union labor for the past
I'VE years can fail to recognize the
wonderful advancement that has been
made in cool-headed and thoroughly
practical management of these matters
by the working men themselves.
Labor organization may be open to
sharp criticism at times, but it cannot
be fairly stated that they are always
wrong. If every man is treated as a
man, and an appeal made to his heart
as well as to his reason, it will estab-
lish bond of confidence of sure eounda-
ton to build upon.
while labor unions may have been a
curse to England, 1 believe that they
will prove a boon to our own country
when a proper basis of confidence and
respect is established.
THE menace of today, as I view it, is
the spread Of a spirit of socialism, one
of those things which is only half I'M
do n q nd or al ~ in
flame the popular mind against all in
dividual initiative and personal energy,
which has been the very essence of
American progress. There is a spirit of
cooperation or community of interests
which some people may cOnfound with
socialism, that is making Roadway with
US, but when anyone attempts for po-
aitical or financial reasons to advocate
the whole programme of European So
cialism, he viii find little prospect of
the seeds taking root in American soil
This, 1 think, was demonstrated very
conclusively in the Ohio campaign
where higher socialism was brought
forth as an issue.
Fairness and prejudice will never
agree to the confscatiOn of the products
of one mans toll in order to insure
comfort to the idle and worthless. Nc
ism is wanted by the American people
that will take from any citizen the just
and equitable reward of his labor. Both
capital and labor must yield in time tc
the great law of fair dealing, man tC
man.
L wish I could impress upon every
American the individual responsibility
that rests upon each one of US. Every
year OF experience, every dollar of ac-
cumulated capital, every talent we pos
sess should be regarded as a sacred
charge for the good of the nation, tt
help in uniting the interest of rich anC
poor, learned and unlearned.'