The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-07-12

'St, SPe'thiiiS On the rights OF
labor, recently said:
THE results of undivided and
irresponsible power in business
have not been fortunate, whether
we look at the restless, speculative
and unSSmpathetic temper of man
agemcnt or at the disasters which
II ScatterS in the community or at
the overtopping claims and opprcs-
sive wealth which it gives rise to
In the form of trusts. With work.
men kept in a dependent position
the transaction is not far ol. difficult
to Il neglect of all interests save
those which the manager has under
consideration. Special production,
special franchises, a especial control
OF the instrument of commerce. en-.
hanced by extended combination.
at length givea monopoly of ad-
vantageS which threaten the over
throw OF all equality of rights in
the economic world. 1t has been
Justly said that the combination Of
workmcn is the first line OF defense
against the march of tyrannical
few toward commercial conquest
of the world. We may well recop.
nize the social value of this move.
ment of workmcn to establish for
themselves an economic footing and
to secure Il real partnership in the
wealth creating process.
'sAn essential step i'll the organ.
ic growth of the community is the
/ if.nt him nfi I.,l, g.
employee can make no terms with
The employer. He is easily pushed
from the shore, like Il spent swim
mcr. When workmcn stand to-
gether i'll recognition of the fact
That labor is Il primary constitution
i'll all production they have a.
position from which they can make
contract with capital in defense
of mutual rights.
'"I'he limit of business activity
is bankruptcy; the limit of labor is
bare subsistence A minimum
wage would arrest both forms of
decay ut an earlier stage. 4 min.
mum wage leaves the ordinary
standards of life unassailcd. The
workmen may as well stop while
life is endurahln rs to hc compelled
to stop when il has become unen-
durable. Tho recovery from the
one position is effected more speed
lily and with less loss than from
the other. Overproduction has
1 gone farther, the price of commod-
/ tiles has fallen lower when the
downward movement has been left
TO complete itself at the expense of
| the laborcr. The rallying process
becomes painful and partial. The
standard of life is reduced, and the
workman lapses into solidity as
one who bears burdens he cannot
\ tighten. Civilization thus becomes
Il crushing weight.
"'rhe primary source Of the
trouble is an overcrowded labor
market. Yet the weakness which
4 is incident to numbers makes itself
4 felt through separate action. Bar
barians are easily defeated because
they are not trained to act together.
Let worknen take thoughtful and
de iberate counsel and the labor
market will take on Il new appear
80 y ~ my viz llltle IdtD Oh
numbers that occasions the diff
Guilty any more than it is in the
swarm of savages that occasions
| the slaughter.
..ln pursuing his purposes by
the legitimate means of combination
a method which is the secret of
civilization, the workman has
made some mistakes. This was
unavoidable and has been partly
due to his overlack of experience
and partly to the unreasonable op-
position he has encountered. ii
is said that he has lost interest in
labor and in many ways retards its
speedy accomplishment.
The labor movement has been
the occasion of able. sustained and
fairninded leadership. If confer
ence is welcome and real grieyan.
ces are pointed out the workmen
will not be the last to correct them.
The superiority of leadership and
reasonableness in advancing claims