The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-12-19


However, the trade union Is not
committed to this theory, for sit h ~
but a practical organization Of work
1nsmen aiming ITO unravel the un-.
tangled knots growing out of aeon
tury Of rapid industrial development,
IN which commercialisn has played
the leading part, with little IL any,
consideration for Its human phase. : :
Era of Combinations. J
The nineteenth century was one of
industrial combination. This was not
merely an advantage: it was a neces-
s1ty. The association of many peo-
pie was required to secure sufficient
capital to buy and operate the indus
trial plants which were the result
Of the invention of machinery. From
that time to this owners Of capital
have combined without any practical
legal hindrance, up to and including
the development Of the tremendous
aggregations Of industrial capital of
the present day.
NO one will soberly deny, in the
face of these aggregations, the abso-
lutte necessity of combination by la
borers. Today but an infinitesimal
proportion of industrial laborers are
employed by individual employers.
The great body of them are in the
employ of corporations, great combin-
at1ons of capital. Labor is obliged to
deal today with concerns employing
from 100000 to 100000 men. It is
ridiculous to think of an Individual
workman trying to deal personally
with concern Of this kind. Imagine
a single Workingman approaching Of
ficers Of the steel trust, and asking a
hearing to secure an Individual con-
tract for work.
AS a matter of fact, there is and
can be no individual laborer in mod
ern Industry. The moment a work.
1ngman enters a manufa curing plant,
he is no longer an individual, he is
a cog In the machine, he works as
a member of an army, and must be
regarded as such by both himself and
his employer. Organization of capital
compels the organization of labor.
What Trade Unionism Is.
I have said the trade union was a
practical business organization Of
workingmen. It recognizes that under
the present Industrial system capital
and labor are both necessary for the
promotion and maintenance Of indus
try. Labor cannot do without capital.
and surely capital cannot dispense
with labor. One is correlative to the
other. This being true, then both are
and ought to be partners in industry,
and both are entitled to just share
of their correlative earnings. Capital
is assured Of it's share in profits, and
labor ought to have a similar assur-
ance in wages. ,:
The perplexing question is not only
how to effect an equitable adjustment
between the two, but who is to do
it? While the trade union plan may
not be a solution of the many intri-
cate issues involved, 1t at least pro-
poses to effect agreements that will
bring about a settled condition Of af-
fairs to a measurable adjustment of
the problem.
Collective Bargaining.
The stockholders in great COM
bination Of capital delegate power to
the officers of the corporation to act
for them in matters effecting the busi-
ness of the concern. What an ad-
vantage these have over the working
man. Labor asks then for the same
consideration from capital that it
takes for itself. It asks for the right
to elect from among their number
certain representatives who will act
for them in dealing with the officials
Of concern on questions involving
the conditions of toll in a. given in
dustry, and the compensation there
for.
This is called collective bargaining,
the object Of which is to secure a
trade agreement. Earnest men with
an honest purpose are here given an
opportunity to meet on friendly terms
in conference, and arrive at mutual
understanding for a given period of
time.
IT capital and labor are to be part
ners in industry, there ought to be
no objection to them meeting on the
same basis, and I am inclined to the
opinion if this was more generally
done, there would be less chaos, and
fewer misunderstanding in the indus
trial world.
Consolidation Of Industries.
Competitive Industries found relie1
from ruinous prices some years ago
10y consolidating, and today they
have confederated under the commun-
ity of interests plan Of organization
1t did not take the trusts very long
to regulate the time worn law OF
supply and demand to oblivion. BY
their acts competitive prices were
destroyed, and e. monopoly price was
| established in lieu thereof.
In 1900 old steel rails were selling
| at $4,000 per ton, but the United States
Steel corporation held the price OF
| new rails at but $50 per ton. The
| demand for this commodity was SO
| great at the time that the capacity
! of the steel trusts factories were in
sufficient to meet the calls Of the
market, and purchasers were Obliged
! to seek old rails. One sold unde,
competitive prices, the other under 8
| monopoly price. The temptation was
undoubtedly strong for the officers OF
the steel corporation to take advan-
tage of the highest competitive price
I but there was a method in their OBJ