OCR Text |
Show THE LABOR QUESTION. Somebody in writing upon this subject sub-ject makes the shrewd and sensible observation ob-servation that the appropriate remdy for laborer's "strikes" is in co-operation by workmen in their different occupations. occupa-tions. The grievanco of which work-ingmen work-ingmen complain is that they do not receive a fair proportion with capital, in the profits of the products of their labor a grievance which ever has, and always will be, subject to the law of supply and demand, except laborers resort to the policy of co-operation and become proprietors as well as workmen. The demagogue dogma that labor is capital, is only true when labor is interested in-terested in the protit as well as the cost of what it produces or manufactures, manufac-tures, and it can only become so interested inter-ested through the principle of co-operation. Even capital wields a power far beyond its segregated amount by combination, and capitalists co-operate to win a profit in excess of what would bo possible if they acted independently of, and in opposition to, each other. They waive prejudices and even opinions, opin-ions, submitting their property to a cod; of incorporation laws that restrains re-strains individual insubordination or whim, to obtain the advantages of a concentration of capital. Why should not laborers do the same thing'' Surely honest industry is as much entitled en-titled as capital to the consideration ol a forbearance of prejudice and abnegation abnega-tion of jealousies lie t ween those whose only capital it is. Herein lies the difficulty uf ejecting a successful co-operation between work-intrmen. work-intrmen. Their jealousies of each other is greater than their regard for their own interests. They exhaust in mutual bickerings the energy that should be devoted to their mutual good, and too often be co no the servile supporters of outside or inside demagogues, who seek only notoriety, position and profit fjr thems.dves, I aike capital, which always waives politics to its own advantage, advan-tage, labor organizations almost invariably invari-ably bjcjme the prey of unscrupulous politicians who flatter them with hypocritical hypo-critical compliments about the dignity ' of labor. There is no digaity in labor tint only receives the recjuitance of a bare subsistence. It is only dignified when it gives an as.-urauce of early Independence In-dependence and proprietorship a treadmill struggle for existence from the cradle to the grave is in the nature of penal servitude and, as the world goes, is destitute of every element ol dignity. Labor is honorable, in the comuiGu acceptation of the word, jum in proportion as it is paid, and to iir crea-e its remuneration should bo the effort of all whose late it is to toil fur a livelihood. A strike of workingmeu i:-not i:-not the right method to dignify the curse pronounced against Adam, nor can this result Le attained thruugh political po-litical parties. Co-operatiou, a union of the workingmen in their distinctive branches of business as proprietors a? well as operatives, is the ouly sensible means to increase their earnings; and as these increase, labor becomes influential influ-ential and dignity possible. |