Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-20
CARNEGIE ON LABOR QUESTIONS

Andrew Carnegie, speaking before
the Civic Federation in New York
yesterday promulgated several pre-
.cepts which. if followed by employers
and employees, will tend to promote
peace between capital and labor and a
feeling OF confidence between ali the
members of the two classes Mr., Car
negie said in the course Of his ad-
dress.
We should always remember with
satisfaction that peace reigns In six
seventh of the Industrial world. Out
OF 22.O00,000 engaged In gainful pur-
suits there are only 100000 In me-
chanical and manufacturing occu-
pations. Now we hear nothing of
war In the agricultural branch. which
OF itself has more than 100000 work
ers. In domestic service, comprising
6,500,0OO all is peace. Perhaps in this
department the relations Of employer
and employed are most satisfactory of
all.
These facts lead us to the cause Of
much Of the tension and strife found
IN the manufacturing and mechanical
departments. 1t rests just here: Into
domestic service and the agricultural
branch there is brought the personal
equation, while in the manufacturing
and mechanical departments nowadays
1t scarcely enters. It is these personal
relationship knowledge Of the vir-
tues OF the employer and employed re-
vealed to each other. creating mutual
regard-that establish the reign of
peace in agricultural and domestic
service.
Small manufacturers and contract
ors employing each few men, rarely
have trouble with them. Eliminating
this class there remain out of the
seven millions engaged in manufacture
ing and mechanical pursuits probably
not more than three million from
whom the blessings Of peace are often
swept away in industrial war.
That is, out of twenty-five millions
OF workers only one-seventh employed
in huge numbers at the large works
or mines are exposed to successive
and disastrous outbursts of war. and
this chiefly for the reason that en-
ployers and employees are strangers
to each others good qualities. 1t is
therefore to this class, employers
equally with employees. we of the Civic
Federation require to devote most of
our thoughts and efforts.
Il am persuaded that uuarrels arise
quite as often from the employers ig-
norance of the fine qualities of his
employees as from ignorance of the
workmen of the good qualities Of their
employers.
AS far as the largest manufactures
and mines are concerned, think the
great corporation engaged in dispute
with Its men makes mistake If it
adopts the policy or even considers it
OF running the works with new men.
First the best workmen are not
idle. and to employ the only class that
can be, obtained Is to lay the founda-
ton OF serious future trouble. 1t does
not pay to lose body of excellent
Workmen and sober, respectable men.
nor to employ the class of workmen
whose services can be obtained to
fill their places"
If the advice Of Mr.. Carnegie is fol
lowed by employers and employees.
then the Civic Federation will not
have been established in vain. The
theory Is good one, but like all other
theories cannot be proven success
without serious trial The secret of
the whole affair he contends, is that
the large employers and their en-
ployes are not close enough together,
and his arguments to support this
statement are good ones. His plan is
q good one and is at least easy to try
and should receive the careful consid-
GRAFTON of all.