The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-11-25
RELATION BETWEEN
CAPITAL AND LABOR
DIR. GLADDEN. Says Crisis Has Been
Reached and That Public We'll
fare Must be Considered.

the men viii submit their 4~,stions
10 arbitrators, according to Dr..
Washington GLADDEN., who spoke at
the First Congregational church, on
Where Are We in Industry" He
said that arbitration must be moved
by good will.
The existing system of industry
rests upon the basis Of individual
ownership Of land and property with
freedom of contract as the ruling
ton principle. That is where we are
theoretically.
The greater operations of the ex-
listing industrial regime are based
upon the wage system. 1t is not an
essential element in the regime of
free contract, but it is the character
istic feature of the present industrial
organization. 1t assumes to be the
application of the principle of free
contract to the relation between en-
ployer and employed. In all the
forms of free contract have largely
disappeared; comparatively few in
Gividual laborers make bargains
about work and wages with individu-
al employers. On the one side is ar.
ultimatum, and on the other side
acceptance or rejection. The labor
er is, however, free so far as the
compulsion of the employer is con.
cerned; when the stipend is offered
he is free to take it or leave it.
! ''Theoreticamy we are still upon
the basis OF free contract; practical
| ~ we have moved away from it. For
the heart Of free contract is compe-
luton, and over large ranges of the
industrial realm competition has
practically disappeared and comb
nation is taking it's place. Employ
ers in most trades are combining,
and workingmen, wherever it is pos
sible, are combining. Such combina-
ton, on both sides, seems to be nee
essary. But they put competition
out of the arena.
With such combinations in con-
troll OF capital on the one side and
labor on the other, but two solutions
OF the labor question are possible
war or arbitration. They must strug-
gle together until one has overpow-
cred the other, or they must meet
and agree upon the terms on which
they VIII cooperate. Up to date the
reliance seems to be mainly upon
war. 1t is generally assumed that
it is only by the strike or the lockout
that Industrial disputes are to be set
tied. Arbitration generally comes
IN as last resort after one of both
: parties are exhausted in the strug-
gle.
That is about where we now are
in industry. l do not think that we
shall stay very long on these condi-
tons. War is barbarism; civilized
age will make an end of it.
I'VE shall not rest here, l say. We
shall not settle down upon the con.
: clusion that this sort of thing cannot
be averted. We shall find way of
putting an end to it. The right of
self defense the nation does possess
against those who use their indus
trial opportunities to infict injury
upon the commonwealth. The indus
trial opportunities of such are sure
TO be taken away. The public well
rare is the supreme law, and it will
be enforced, in due season; of that
there can be no doubt. And it be-
hooves all those who make these vas,
: combinations, in the maintenance OF
which great public injuries are in.
ficted. to take note of this fact and
J govern themselves accordingly.
ii 1T appears, then, that we have
reached in the development of our
industrial organization a pretty ser.
, ious crisis. Just how we shall meet
, 1t do not know. Just what we
shall have left when we get through
: 1t | would not try to tell. But ]
: gained some modification of socia
theories, some restatement of the
fundamental principles of our juris
prudence. some new maxims for the
r guidance of everyday affairs.
If competition is practically
abandoned, and if war is impossible
there appears to be no other solution
I. OF Industrial problems but thai
which depends on the principles OF
+ morality. This is what arbitration
It means. Force is laid aside. Mer
i say: Let US not try to coerce each
) other by strikes and lockouts; let us
i reason together. The question i.
# not what can do to you or wha,
= you can do to me: the question Ii
i what is right between us; wha,
= ought ! do to you; what ought yor
i, tn f7n :Sr ypacs