New-York tribune., 1908-07-13
ORGANIZATION
Relations BetzCeen Capital and
Labor-N0Uements for Peoc.
Frankfnrt-nn-nfatn

passed it In Industrial enterprise until /,
ranks as the eighth in order Of population. Nv
| IT has remained after Berlin and Hamb,--r A'
richest town in the empire. It is the borr.
bankers retired merchants and millionaire, -.
has supplied the capital for chemical 20
manufactures and electric undertakings In g.
Germany. Conservative as a wealthy CITY -
be to justify a reputation for financial stasrs~
1t also has radical traditions Of dsrnocrac,
the former capital Of the Confederation ansrs
historic seat of the Diet. Prince Bisra,...
served his diplomatic apprenticeship here. a.
when the new empire was founded accepted ma
versaI suffrage not because he was in sympats
with IT but because it was the Frankfort traa.
tfon and had to be respected Plutocracy ana
democracy meet on equal terms in the ancsu,
city. They are like the red and white wtp.,
flowing from the R6mer fountain on coronation
nights.
The relations Of capital and labor. wealth ana
poverty. in an empire founded on manhood yu..
frace and on a democratic parliament. are tbs
natural theme Of a letter from Frankfort IN a
series dealing with German social question:.
The city. with its massive and ornate banks.
luxurious hotels. elegant residences. spacious
avenues and artistic statuary. has all the indica-
tions Of wealth and prosperity; and the outlying
suburbs with their hundreds OF worErneu's
houses built by the municipal government on
liberal terms for tenants on its own estates bear
witness to systematic efforts for improving the
condition of the less favored classes The con-
+rasts between wealth and poverty are sharp,
but there are no signs OF hostile prejudice and
predatory warfare. Universal suffrage has never
bsen repealed. and the Social Democratic party
has DoIIed an immense vote in the elections for
the ReIchstag; yet denagOgues have not sue
ceeded In unsettIing the minds of workingme1
nor in preventing the. growth OF conservatism
among them. Complaints may be general that
the Frankfort tradition Of manhood suffrage has
NOT been effectively carried out in an imperial
narIfauent which is little more than debating
society without a representative ministry re-
enonsfbIe to the electorate, but there are no in-
d,cations Of class warfare and social dlscontsnt
The interests of workers have not been neglect
.d Reforms have been carried out Dy wnica
bousing has been improved, faclLiues lot secu'-
Ire enopIovrnent have been Increased and tney
ora insured against the risks OF accident SICK
ness. disability and old age
l. an er1pfre Of wage earners, Ieasued 10
oo+ber b1 trade unionism on the H1lIlOdly prln-
c,n1e that the heavy battalions must De HiaSseu
for effective service, there are occaslondI I0S0'
AGAINST employers, and some OF them are pro-
tracted campaigns. There have been disaSlfOu'
.doclers' strikes in the ports, miners IocAou'' u
westphaIia and organized movements ~ '"'
80 ord steel and textile industries When
wages are low and hours long IN coinpai'0
v-itb America or England conflicts between
oa-I.aI o,d labor cannot be averted yet ths
raIattons Of employers and workers are steadily
,.oo-,t-,o- mora peaceabIe and harmonious. Two
general causes may be assigned for TINS result
- ,raee earners and their employers ara
CLOSELY associated in working out the triple sys-
+a,n of emergency insurance, and this tends 10
create tolerance and good feeling, and secona'
there is a system of industrial courts and trads
tribunals throughout the empire by which N
divfd1aI grievances can be adjusted and trouois
avoided bv processes Of Cancellation This peace
making power is not concentrated as II IS III
England In the Board Of Trade 1t IS DIS
trsbuted among hundreds Of local agences yet
is so effectively exercised that appeals LOT ar
bftration can be made inexpensively oy WORK
men. whether trade uniOnists or non-unlon
men. and mediation be brought about N lh'
course of a few weeks. Every industrial town
has its concfation court, easily accessible, JUST
ly conducted and rapid in procedure
Even more noticeable than the increasing dis
position among employers and employed TO get
on peaceabIy are the lethargy and indinerenco
Of the masses respecting combinations and syn
iicates. There are no outcries against then
either In the press or in public meetings. IneH
existence is not questioned. since there IS not
an industry Of any importance which IS n0'
controlled and regulated by cartels and agrse-
nents respecting production. price and distriou-
ton. All the productive and mercantile agencies
for supplying the home market with food. man
ufactures and Iuxuries are systematically or
,anized and the export trade is completely
under the control Of combinations and trusts
Germans take these matters quietly S
though they were details Of military discipline
Possibly the training of conscrtpts under con-
1ftions of universal service has something 10
10 with it. They are taught in field maneuVres
hat a single exposed gun is a source OF WeaA-
ness rather than of strength and that artileIS
must be massed for victory; and they are reA"5
to admit that the individual manufactures u
merchant Isolated on his own ground Is o@
'enceless and that battle for market cA1
De won only when the attacking forces ~
combined for united effort 1n'
organization has been perfected u
ietail in the German army. and il is natura-
or workmen and consumers TO conclude 'n4-
here must be similar concentration OF to
sources if manufacturers and merchants are to
retain control of the home market and TO con-
luct successful Invasion of foreign countries
1 am not attempting TO defend German CUM
oinatiOns and trusts. but merely 70 explain 01'i
passive attitude OF the great body Of eonsuni'
rs Meat trusts are denounced especially "hs4
prices are so high that horsefesh is consumed ~
arge quantities. and the Agrarian parry
tngrily condemned by Socialists in the industFa-
owns for increasing the cost Of living; but oIuE'i
larily there is little adverse comment upon tn'
nd ri Of
or regulating production. controlling prices anu
ystematizfng distribution Military trainihs
lelps TO explain public apathy. and there S N
additional Justification that the mlLE 0oJeet ~