Year: 1873




The great struggle between capital and
labor in England has developed most extra
ordinary organization among the capitalists
nothing less than q trade union of masters
who employ over 10000 laborers to re-
sist the encroachments Of the employed.
That such a combination is possible in Eng
land is not surprising, nor would it be more
astonishing to find the capitalists in America
demanding q similar federation. On the ono
hand labor in the United States is republi-
can despotism compactly organized into
unions tributary to general Legislative or
supreme body. This organization not only
controls those who are within it. but also those
who are without; and, while there is no doubt
that the demands of American trade unions
have often been excessive and unnecessary,
we are not disposed to complain Of their gen.
eral operations. On the other hand capital
has been autocratic also, refusing ''on prin-
ciple" to accede to demands which would
ultimately fall on the public and
not on the employer or manufacturer.
All the strikes, oil the wasted industry and
drunken idleness all the bitter recriminations-
and violent remedies have grown out of the
unhappy conflict of these two inelastic. nom
yielding copartners and they are in copart-
nership, for without one the other could not
exist. In England they are trying to produce
harmony between these two forces, but as to
how far the movement Of ''The National Fed
Grafton of Associated Employers of Labor
will succeed we cannot, of course, say. The
society is professedly organized to counteract
the influence of the trade unions it will
defend capital against the unjust demands Of
labor, whether by legislation or by strikes.
They propose to establish newspapers, watch
the proceedings of Parliament encourage
n-unionists, and endeavor ''to give to edu-
cation, intelligence and capital their fair share
of influence in the constituencies OF
course, all this means war, organized war;
and it is to this ultimatum that the struggle
must arrive in America There is differ
ence between the English and American In
borer always. Here it is safe to say that he
is three hundred per cent more intell-
gent, and thousand become prosperous
citizens where one in England works
out of the rut of perpetual, sweaty
toll 50 that in no case can the future strug-
gle be termed one between Intelligence and
ignorance on this side of the Atlantic. The
movement in England will undoubtedly
prove Infectious for the organization Of one
great interest, as opposed to another, is
generally followed by consolidation Of
power equally Jealous and determined We
do not see why it should not come, and then
the issue would be squarely made and capital
and labor would clearly understand each
other. But two such bodies placed in per-
petual antagonism would necessitate the con-
struction of tribunal of appeal, to which
the two interests might carry their irrecon-
cilable disputes. BY this means the public
that public which always suffers, suffers by
eight hour laws, railroad Strikes the stoppage
of travel or the inanity Of any branch OF in
dustry-would find some measure OF protec-
ton. With the English capitalists an enor-
nous influence surrounds their debut in this
their first campaign, and the wealthiest and
oldest manufacturers have given the fedora
ton their support. Whatever may be the
outgrowth, it is interesting to note that the day
of the great tournament is approaching.