Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03
4t'ssIISS; Is y;
LABOR, WAGES AND PRICES.

The independence and pride of
American labor, described SO glow
ingly by Daniel Webster, have con-
tributed in large measure to the high
standard of living that our working
men have attained, when their status
is compared with other countries. 1t
is we'll that labor is not dependent
upon the patronage of capital and
that it's position in the industrial
equation is solidly established. The
power and independence of capital
have long been recognized. But the
independence of either or both may
become a grevious evil if it is as
serted in a manner that would tend
to injure the other, says the Memphis
Commercial Appeal. In order that
the true industrial ideal may be at
tanned it must be understood by each
that it is mutually dependent upon
the other. The independence Of eth
err is at best merely relative and when
one or the other attempts to make it
absolute trouble is bound to result.
But there is another and mere inn
portant partner in the labor and cap
ital corporation, who is none other
than the public. Some years ago the
big monied interests and the big
employers of labor chose to disregard
absolutely the rights of the people.
Their leader and champion was Cor
nelius Vanderbilt, whose unfortunate
slogan of "the pubic be damned" has
reacted in the most positive way
against what we have come to know
as "the big interests" The carrying
out of this policy has brought all the
trouble to the big corporations, but it
has been good thing for the coun-
try, since it has taught the men of
large capital and the big industrial
leaders that they are not supreme.
AS the special privileges of capital
declined the rights of labor advanced.
1t was seesaw operation that was
inevitable from the very nature of
the relationship of the two. AS one
end went down the other went up. Now
in such process there is always the
danger that the balance will not be
maintained and that the weight of
public opinion must be thrown over
the fulcrum as an artificial stabilizer.
A couple of instances of late might
Indicate that the plain people may
again be called upon to evert their
stabilizing influence.
There was a familiar sound to the
cry, 'the public be damned" that a
part of the Chicago street railway
strikers set up when they attempted
to break up meeting where means
of adjusting the strike were being
discussed. This altogether unallur-
ing invitation may be expected to the
people by men who allow their wealth
to work for them or by those VITO
use their hands for their labor, but
we hardly think that it will be &C
copied as coming from either source.
The radicals who set up this cutlery
evidently have not allowed the les
son of the big corporations to sink in
to their minds, but unless they do
learn wisdom by past experience it
will be taught to them as it was
taught to the big interests.
On top of the Chicago manifesto
ton comes the announcement that
100000 railway shopmen have quit
work and in doing so have acted alb
solutely contrary to the advice OF
their leaders. How they expect to
win a leaderless strike we do not
quite understand. If they remain out
and are successful then they have
discredited their own leaders. II
they lose then they are that much
further away from their demands
and their loss is so much the great
err.
Without going into the merits Of