The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-14
THE LABORER IS HIRE.
Workingmen Have a Right to Demand
Just Compensation.

Rev. Thomas ]. Gasson, S. j., of Bos-
ton college in a recent address before
the Boston Central Labor Union said
in part:
mo rejecting man can contemplate
the present conditions Of life without
being deeply impressed by the fact that
the paramount questions Of the hour
are those which deal with the relations
between capital and labor, between the
employer and the employee.
IN fact. the labor question as it is
called, seems to have over shadowed
nearly every. other question, and men
are evidently. more desirous of having
this problem solved than they are of
deciding the form and functions of the
government under which they live. In
separately connected with the subject
is the question Of wages or the fair re-
muneration OF labor.
1T is absurd to say that the eco
nomlc life of the nation may be
viewed as something independent of
the the code Of morals. Justice, then,
must reign in the economic sphere un-
less we are prepared to admit an over
Whelmfng tyranny of force and the su-
prenacy of matter. We may safely
say. then, that where the compensa-
ton is in proportion to the work per-
formed the contract between master
and workman is fair and the claims Of
equity have been recognized.
But how are we to determine this
proposition? How shall we decide the
proper amount Of wages to be paid?
The question Is not without many
difficulties. TO simplify matters, let
us take. first of all. the case Of ordinary
service, Of unskilled labor. What shall
We consider as a proper return7
Shall we say a. many do, that the
labor Is common merchandise, a COM
modify which the employer may pur-
chase in the cheapest market, ire
spectlve of the considerations of JUS
tice or humanity? May labor be con-
sidered In the nature Of bale of goods
put up for sale for which the buyer
will offer the lowest imaginable price? :?
To assert this Is to close ones eyes
to a truth patent to. all-the living
man cannot be reduced to a bale of
merchandise. Labor is not a mere
1t Is not something devoid of life, it
is not something seperable from the
living agent; it is a part of the man, it
Is the outflow Of his energy, the crys-
talizttion Of his vital force; it is the
wear and tear of his life, and no sys-
tenn Of wages preserves the laws of
justice unless these facts are taken in
to consideration. ~.-
The laborer consequently in his toll
gives part to his life, and justice de-
mands that In return he receives what
Is necessary to maintain life not only
In himself, but in his wife and child
ren::aaSs hence the iIigman has. the
right TO demand for his compensation
all that is needed to support himself
and those naturally dependent upon
him In condition Of moderate COM
fort, for just as a breadwinner is not
piece Of merchandise, so neither is
he a beast Of burden, and the return
ne receives must be sufficient to en-
able him to pass his days in respect
able surroundings, to live upon whole
some food, to wear decent clothes and
to educate his children in a fitting
manner for the stern tragedy of life
AS long as employers hold to the
principle that labor may be regarded
as any other marketable commodity, so
long they will fling to the winds the
pressing claims Of justice and human
ity. But If a healthy theory of eco
nomfcs f1ourishes among us, if men are
brought to see that in the pursuit Of
wealth due regard must be had to the
fundamental moral code, if employers
learn, as learn they should, that the
bond between them and their toiiers is
moral bond entailing on both sides
the most sacred obligations of con-
science, binding them in such wise that
fraud, deceit and dishonesty therein
are crimes menacing the very exist
ence OF the nation, then may we hope
to see the day of victory for the bread
winner and the realization Of the toll
ers' earthly paradise.