Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-07-21
LABOR UNREST AND WAGES.
Only Aim Not Larger Share Of the
Profits

The social unrest in Great Britain and
other countries is too often associated
in the mind of the casual observer with
struggle for more money. for more OF
the profits of labor. The average en-
ployer of labor is so absorbed in the ac-
emulation of wealth and his relations
with those he employs are so impersonaI
that he naturally regards the demand of
the worker for more wagess shorter
! hours, and better conditions of life
through the same materialistic glasses
that he views his competitors the rise
and fall of the market. The passing of
! the individual employer and the rise OF
joint stock companies have widened the
gulf between capital and labor and ar
rayed in hostile camps those whose in
terests should be identical. The trouble
is that many employers forget that the
worker also wants money not merely to
enable him and his family to exist, but
to live. Life to an awakened human be-
ing is not exhausted by the daily strug-
gle for bread, clothing, and shelter.
The horse and the enjoy these. But
man, with his ilimitable possibilities, his
spiritual nature, and his greater respon-
sibiities. looks for a higher life. The la
Dor unrest is not a question of wages
only. but the claim of humanity to
higher life. 1t IL life, and life more
abundant, that men and women crave,
and this cannot be realized while the
struggle for mere existence is so intense
and bitter.
Thirty thousand women-members OF
the women's cooperative guild-wera
represented by over 800 of their number
at congress that took place recently in
| 10. anlU
democratic organization of women IL the
old country, and an eyewitness or the
proceedings describes this gathering OF
working class women as extraordinarily
impressive" Rows of faces of curious
Wilderness, the startling uniformity o. t-e
deep lines upon those faces. which
seemed to have set them In an expires
, sion of suffering and patience and ear
nestness.. revealed the presence or wo-
men who. as wives and mothers had ac-
ouired the knowledge of life and suHef-
ing that comes so early and In such drao
attire To the toiling masses OF industrial
England This parliament of women dis-
cussed with remarkable abliity the PRIV
nosal IN fuse all the labor forces, anu
also the questions of living wage anu
,,oat;on The womens cooperative
y,itd has already set the example ny
having its own employees living "ase
- ~ shi,liugs weekly for adult women
and having set it's own house III oiuei ~
~ q nositiop to demand the extension VI
tbis minimum to all trades nu. ING
conpress did not stop at wages INC
,,,aacbes of these working class women
disclosed a passionate yearning Tor eauai-
ity of opportunity in the hishei
80 thought and culture, winch tue i'ieo
arah,e caste system has so long reservoir
&C asnecial preserve for the upper
o,asses As one delegate polgnahty
S,a;,,,od. ..I feel we have only JUST
,aacbed the stage of knowing our
i,norance.r Four of the resolutions o
-, the congress dealt with eaucauon'
~, nth the education of the women
.,'se,ves and two with the eouca'io"
of the children. ,raa hv
National prosperity Is no. meas.ep ~
.ah actual wealth created Out ny 'ne
o,dence of wealth distributor al"
,,,.,,r standard of comfort ana happihess
Itch the equitable distributor VI
'.,.h fosters among the people. Inc
,,. congress at Newcastle IS por-
49,. ~ the times, and reflects the guy
,.'.aort.nt of the working classes Win
,.,arrowness of their lives, ana the'r
~. ,,,ip,tion to acquire for themselves
fold i'm which to develop that III
lie which distinguishes them from
the beasts that perish.-ioroh'o uio'''