The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-06-13

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-cspital and labor must be used to
ether. and with the supply OF CAPT.
Al increasing faster than the supply
.flabor it isinevitable that labor shall
steadily gats stronger position. Ey,
Try little while we have the sugges.
ion. and from wise men 100. that be-
.ore things are settled labor will have
% be liquidated.
Gentlemen. labor will never be
liquidated' as long as capital grows
'aster than population. But II capt.
al Accommodations fall OF: II our earn.
Ings fall off or our g lngs fall of (;
II We become inefficient in production
or wasteful in xpenditure-then there
will be danger that everybody will be
liQuIdated.'
And there is still another phase OF
this subject. 1t is said that capital
substitutes machinery for labor. So
1t does, but what becomes OF the prod.
ucts OF machinery? Does 1t come
home TO you that practically all of the
vast expenditures We see going on
about us for construction and equip.
ment are for the purpose OF serving
in some manner the masses OF the PEG
pie-of supplying something they want
End can afford to buy? II wouldn't
AXE many railways or factories to
supply the wants of the rich. 1t Is
the wants OF the millions that keep
The wheels OF business moving. And
with capital increasing faster than
opulation. and with this enormous In.
crease in equipment. together with the
improvements in methods and machin-
cry. we have a constantly Increasing
supply OF commodities per head OF
population. and the only way these
commodities can possibly be dlstribut-
ed is by such continual reimbursement
CT wages and prices as will enable the
masses OF the people 10 buy them.
There would be congestion in every
line OF production. and capital and en-.
terprise would choke down II the pur.
chasing power OF the masses did not
constantly increase. II anyone thinks
this is mere theory let him turn to the
record. How DOGS it happen that the
lumber OF horsepower employed by
manufacturing establishments in the
United States increased s. per cent.
between 1900 and 1910, while the pop
ulation was increasing q per cent?
How do You explain that the railway
tonnage increased so per cent. and the
consumption of coal doubled in the
same period? Is any other expiana.
tiOn possible than that the industries
were producing more goods per head
Of population. the railways we're dis.
uibnting them TO all parts on the coun.
81 anu 'ilt Slthi bouS vi tHt ptOllt
we're buying and consuming them?
Il think that we are bound 10 recog.
riZc that terribly mistaken and mis-.
guided as the labor organization at
times have been. they have also shown
Il very noble spirit OF brotherhood and
sclf-sacrifice. spirit indeed that is
Of the very essence Of social progress.
Il Is class spirit. class conscious
ness. class devotion. but all the in.
situations of society have developed
from the earlier and smaller groups.
There are these two essentials for
q Progressive people: there must be
gains in the efficiency OF the popula.
tion and gains in available capital TO
finance greater efficiency. It used TO
he said out west that farmer was al.
ways striving TO grow more corn to
feed more hogs to buy more land 10
grow more corn. etc, ad infinitum.
And so gains in efficiency and in capt.
tai react upon each other indefinitely.
And IL the bankers have better com
rrehension OF the common interests o!
the community than any other class OF
people, it is for them TO lead in the
work of education"