| Show IT IS NOT THE REMEDY THE labor question is one of the greatest of the age it is one of the most difficult problems to grapple with the i methods proposed for its satisfactory solution are almost countless A few of the more philanthropically inclined large firms of the east have tackled it so far as their immediate business is concerned it is doubtful about the plan exten extending din beyond a limited circle although it has been asserted by some journals of prominence that if the system were universal strikes and labor and capital conflicts would be at an end and a pacific era inaugurated the method is not entirely new except perhaps in the way of its application as a remedy against the strafes into which the two classes concerned are plunged workers and capitalists it simply consists of employers giving employed emp loyes an interest in their business by sharing the profits with them this is done on the bequita able principle that t the he results are produced by a combination of the forces of the two the one being inoperative opera live without the other those who anticipate an extirpation of labor troubles on this basis are resting expectancy on a frail foundation our reason for taking this view is that the system must be equal in its operations otherwise it is unsound this equilibrium demands that as the profits accrue to both classes in times when business is flourishing the losses should be borne in the same ratio w when hen the dullness of the times demands that if conducted at all it must be at a loss to give the profits to one class under a certain condition and the losses to but one under opposite circumstances would not be lair fair or just yet in times of it is doubtful whether the worker mould would be willing to accede to the situation rather eather the question does not admit of much doubt the probability is in favor of discontent and conflict indeed it is questionable if the workers could possibly pes sibly bear the proportionate diminution of income in stringent times unless they were in times of prosperity more thrifty than men ordinarily are we are afraid that those these who have built high hopes of a solution on this basis are doomed to disappointment besides the possibilities ties involved in ia tile the ebb and flow 0 of f trade the great majority of capitalists i are too grasping tr accede to it after all the only panacea for nearly all existing existing ins ills must consist of a greater breadth of intelligence and a change of heart with this perverse and selfish generation the latter ingredient of the compound appears to be rather remote |
