Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-04-21

| age capitalists generally fr ON invest
ing in stock companies, but upon the
other hand it would encourage theil
4 Organization from the very fact thai
the smaller investments would , be
protected to a greater extent thar
now, from the imposition of the
larger stockholders.
While this plan may not be perfec-
ton, one in force and practice in the
larger institutions of the country, il
will become as firmly fixed rule fol
the guidance of th6 affairs of these in
situations, as that now practiced in
the agricultural industry, which is: II
1 the proprietor of farm lets his farm
I to renter, and furnishes the seed
utensils, and teams, the renter re
ceives one-third of what his labor
Yields and if the renter furnishes the
teams and one-half of the seed he, the
renter, receives one-half of all his
labor products. Thus, if a court of
arbitration was established by law,
| for the adjustment of the affairs be
tween the employer and the en-
| ployee in any of the mining, manu-
| featuring, commercial and transport
tation% companies, it's decision would
become ,as common a precedent as
| the rules now practiced by the farmer
and tenant. The law ought to pro
vide for the'erection and composition
of the court.
First jury composed of equal
numbers of employers and employees
or persons selected by them, and the
Labor Department appoint the pre-
siding Judge.
The rules for the government of
this. court:I
First-Fix a reasonable rate<~of
wages whether by time or piece.
Second-The money and property
capital, or that which is known as
stock in stock companies, the invest
4nent, should receive from. the net
profits earned by the institution, the
first dividend, equal at least to the
market value of money.
.
should be recognized by computing
the wage cost for one calendar year,
added to the investment of the insti-
tuition and upon this united capital,
declare and pay the. second dividend
out of the net earnings. Whether
or not the wage Garner would obtain
more for his labor under arbitration
than he does now, would depend
upon the earnings of the institution
in which he is employed.
Thus, if the investment would
amount to $1,OOO,OOo the first divi-
dend would be paid upon that mil
lion. If the annual wage cost would
be $1,0O0,0O0, the second dividend |
would be paid upon 100000 capt.
tai. The net profits of that institu-
ton for the year would have to |
amount to $4,000 in order to pay |
first dividend of five per cent and
a second dividend of five per cent.
Thus, if ga" had $1,000 invested in |
that institution he would receive ten
per cent or $4,000. And if a wage !
worker had earned $1,000 per an
mum, he would receive in addition to
his wage dividend Of five per cent
or $50.
Now suppose that system-this |
kind Of an arbitration law was in /
force in some of these large steel |
manufacturing institutions that de-
clare and pay a dividend of more
than $20,000,000 per annum, it |
would yield to the wage worker
therein, who faces the fiery furnaces
and whose labor produces these CO.
lossal dividends a handsome Christ
mas present, aye! more than that; if
this same system was in force in all |
the institutions of the land it would
not only bring forth satisfaction to
the wage worker, but it would appeal |
to and arouse the noblest attributes |
of his manhood, it would awaken /
within his breast hope for the fu-
ture, it would sweep away the dark /
and bitter pangs engendered through |
lockouts and strikes. 1t would stop |
the necessity for government by in
junction, martial law, and the bull
pen, This division of profits is not
a matter of charity but of right and
justice, State can do all this for
labor, and more. 1t can abolish the
system of convict contract labor. 1t
can adopt an eight-hour day system
without so many exceptions.
What were the relations Of state
to labor in the earlier periods Of the
human race? .r
Under absolute monarchy and de- !
spotic governments, relatively speak
ing, the wage worker Of today would
gather the fruits of the earth and fill
the ranks Of the armies of the re-
spectiye monarchs, for one despot to
rob the other of his possessions and
wealth, commonly known to us as
the policy Of conquest, with. no per-
ceptible purpose other than which
despot would be the master. What |
10. +ba ebo of tho oo |