The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-01-13
PHASES Of LABOR
PROBLEM
Discussion of Some of the
Inevitable Factors Entering
Into the Question

AT the twelfth annual banquet OF
the board of trade of Worcester, Mass,
ex-Congressman Joseph II. Walker de
livered IN address on "Some Phases
of the Labor Question" Among other
things he said:
When the time comts that wage
earners cease to demand higher wages
and employers will not, and. much
more, when they cannot advance
wages. progress in civilization has
come to an end.
Again, employers must remember
that advancing wages and shortening
the work day greatly stimulate inven.
ton in order to keep the cost of the
unit of product down and to still fur
Their reduce prices to the larger mar
ket.
These forces, seemingly destruc
tive to each other, act and react a.
centripetal and centrifugal forces.
While seemingly destructive the one
of the other they are in reality NOT
only desirable theoretically, but alb
solutely necessary to the safety of so
SiStS. Whcie pIOSIeSS eluS, retl OSreS
sion begins.
The combination of several factories
into gigantic corporations is only an
inevitable step in advancing civiliza-
ton. 1t must, in the working of mex
orable natural law, be accompanied by
like gigantic organization of wage
The harm that would come
to the country with the good that
from gigantic combinations oil
employers can only be me, ana neu-
t1alized in the combining of the wage
n in equally strong organiza
tons. The increasing and ever an.
larging volume of accumulated wealtA
is necessary to a larger distribution
OF wealth among wage earners AMI 20
the shortening of the woi kday, the
increase of wages and the lowering OF
prices to the masses. Through the
proper distribution of this wealth, in
the use of it by the masses of the PEG.
pie, we see the present intellectually
increased sum of human happiness,
as compared with the past.
The changed conditions and methods
of employers in producing wealth have
necessltated changed methods and
conditions upon the part of the emf
ployees in securing their betterment.
Ihe mistakes n wrongdoings of or
CARNATIONS of wage or of in
dividuals in them, as or organizations
of employers, have no more justifca.
lion or excuse, but they have the same
as have the wrongdoings or other or
that nave always accom-
panied advancing civilization.
But to refuse to recognize a labor
organization by an Individual and by
corporations because of It's faults al
and everywhere puts them in
the wrong and leaves them defense
before the public.
The resistance of large bodies of
wage arner outside of labor organi-
to being compelled to become
of them is normal and hon
orable, n they should be defended
at any cost; but members of labor or
CARNATIONS only do as all of us do II
to induce them to become mem
bers by honorable means. They are
only doing as their employers are do
ing in the organizations of the EN-
ployers.
Furthermore, rates or wages must be
agreed upon for groups or wage earn
ers. 1t is impossible for civilization
to advance on any other basis. We
rn,,c al~,;t ait. -. -
practice for a third or a century.
Wages, as well as longer or shorter
Horkdays, are always made for groups
Of workers-not the individual-and
necessarily so. 1t is impracticable for
Individual employers in any large in
fustry to agree with individual wage
as to daily wages. DO no,
fail to observe hat wages are no.
primarily fixed upon the basis of the
mount of strength and skill that is
in producing the results of
The days labor by the law of demand
and supply. Wages and the length OF
he workday are fixed upon the basis
If the requirements of the social posi-
ion of the wage That is to
say, the rate of wages is fixed in Chris
tan communities by the amount of
money required by the wage Garner
each class by the ~concensus Of opin-
on of all the people in his community
to the style of living he must main.
ain to keep his self respect in tina.
This is largely made up
D. the opinions of other classes of
men his daily work brings MIN In con-
act with. A determination to main !
ain the style Of living OF his class