The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-01-14

Gates Unionisn to Better Condition
Of Laborer.
New York Jan. ll.-For the first
time since he became recognized
candidate tor the Republican prcsi-
Dental nomination. Secretary of War
William IL. Tart faced a New York
audience. set forth in detail his stand
On the pertinent question OF the rela-
tive interests and rights OF labor and
capital. and in turn submitted to a
rapid fire attack from the audience
which Quizzed him keenly and in a
somewhat controversial spirit. accord.
ing to the practice Of the Peoples In
stitute. whose guest he was.
In his prepared address the secre-
tary pointed out the dependence. one
upon the other. OF capital and labor.
lie declared that great aggregations
OF wealth properly employed widened
the field OF labor and were to be vel
coined. while wealth improperly used
was 10 be condemned He advocated
unionism insofar as sympathy and
the resultant cooperation made for
the common good. Continuing Mr.
Taft said
Il only requires the effects Of a panic
through which we are passing. or through
which We passed 90 lss3 or 1S.3 to show
how closely united In a common interest
We all are in modern society. We are In
the same boat. and financial and business
storms which affect one are certain TO
affect all others. Therefore. the laboring
man should be tho last TO object TO the
rapid accumulation OF capital In the
hands or those who use Il for the repro
duction OF capital. The thoughtful and
intelligent lahorer has therefore no feel
ing OF hostility toward combinations Of
capital engaged In lawful business
methods
The capitalist. however wealthy. who is
willing 20 devote his nights and days to
the investment OF MS capital In profitable
lawful business or manufacture and who
studies methods OF reducing the cost OF
production and economizing expenses
therein should be regarded with favor by
the workingman, because. while his mo-
tive Is merely one OF accumulation. he Is
working not only for himself. but for
labor and for society at large. The wealth
they accumulate Is not wrested from Ia
Dor. but Il Is only n part Of that which
has been added 10 the general stock by
the ingenuity. Industry, Judgment and
ability or those who enjoy Il. H. with the
growth In the population. the condition
- man ~ 10 improve. new ways Tor the
use or capital 70 better advantage must
be devised. which shall at the same time
Increase capital more rapidly than the
population and reduce the cost OF living.
IL is greatly In the interest OF the work.
ingman that corporate capital should be
fairly treated. Any injustice done to IL
acts directly upon the wage-earners that
must look TO corporate wealth for their
employment. Take the large body OF
railroad employees. Any drastic legislation
which tends unjustly 10 reduce the leKiti-
mate earnings OF tho railroad must In
ths end fail with heavy weight upon the
employees OF that railroad, because the
manager Will ultimately turn toward
wages as the place where economy can
be Effected SO IN respect TO taxation. II
the corporation is made 10 bear more
than Its share OF the public burdens. II
reacts directly, first upon its stockholders
and then upon its employees.
but while II is In the common interest
OF labor and capital to Increase the fruits
OF production. yet In determining the
share OF each I'm the product. their in
terots are plainly opposed Though the
law OF supply and demand Will doubtless
In the end be the most potent influence
In fixing this division. yet during the
gradual adjustment to the changing mar
kets and the varying financial conditions,
capital will surely have the advantage
unless labor takes united action. During
the betterment OF business conditions.
organized labor II acting with reason
able discretion. can secure much greater
promptness In the advance Of wages than
II II were LEFT 10 the slower operation OF
natural laws. and in the same way. as
hard times come on, the too eager en-
ployer may be restrained from undue
haste In reducing wages. The organiza-
ton OF capital into corporations. with the
position or advantage which this gives It
In dispute with single laborers over
-.
labor TO unite to maintain itself.
Arguing that the effect Of the or
ganizaticn of labor has been beneficial
in securing better terms for the whole
laboring community, and brought
about an amelioration of the condition
of laborers in another way. Secretary
Taft declared that the attention given
by labor unions TO remedial legisla-
ton has been OF more direct interest
than even that of the philanthropists.
What the capitalist. who is the en-
ployer Of labor. must face Is that the or
ganization Of labor-the labor un'on--is a
permanent condition IN the Industrial
world 1t has come TO stay. II the EN-
ployer must consult his own interest he
must admit this and act on II. Under ex-
isting conditions the blindest course that
an employer OF labor can pursue Is to
decline to recognize labor unions as the
Influence In tho labor market
and to insist upon dealing only with his
particular employees.
The time has passed IN which that at
titude can be assumed with any hope Of
successfully maintaining II. What the
wise manager OF any corporate enter
prise employing large numbers OF Taborers
will do. Is to receive the leaders of labor
unions with courtesy and respect and lis
ten TO their claims and arguments as they
would TO the managers OF any other cor
porate enterprise with whom they were
TO make an Important contract affecting
the business between them. The proposi-
tions from labor unions sometimes are so
exorbitsnt in respect TO the terms Of en-
ployment as literally to deprive the nan-
ager OF the control which he ought to re-
tain over the laborers employed in his
business. This Is to be expected in a
new movement and f. not
to be made a ground for condemnfng 81
On the other hand. the arrogance Is not
confined 20 one side We all OF US know
that there are number OF employers
who have the spirit OF intolerance and
sense OF power because OF their immense
resources. and that trelr attitude Is
neither conciilatory nor likely 10 lead 20
an adjustment OF differences. The wise
the labor leaders are those who discard
all appearance OF temper or sense OF
power and attempt by courteous eonsid-
Grafton ard calm disct zsion TO reach a
common ground.
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