Impending Labor Problems [pp. 217-222]

1893.] Jmpending Labor Problems. 217
IMPENDING LABOR PROBLEMS.
T~LL recently all classes in America are learning more definitely where the
professed to labor for the interest of all, evil lies, and what is the practical
and each was ready to concede much remedy. They lately worked together
for the benefit of others. Now the sev- as workingmen, as if their interests
eral groups, in working for their own were one: now they recognize that some
interests, often admit that they do not of their industrial enemies are workingregard those of others. Instead of ask- men, and not workiugmen in other
ing, What is best for maii? people ask, branches merely, but in their own. They
What is best for the wage-worker? What have become keenly sensitive to the
is best for the manufacturer? What is fact of a competition among themselves.
best for the importer? What 5 best The present tendency of the workingfor the farmer? What is best for the men's movement is accordingly toward
railroad interest? Each party is not on- radical measures which affect chiefly
ly selfish but sure that all t he others are, themselves. Relief must come, it is
and there is not that confidence in the thought, from a mitigation of competiwhole that existed when mutual good tion, which is now popularly deemed the
will was believed to count in business. chief evil of our system.
In listening to each other's arguments, The demands that most likely will
men look for motives rather than reasons. be made with a view to relieving us from
A common opinion prevails that each is this competition, are, if we may judge
seeking some advantage, and there is a from present indications, the followsuspicion that is undermining belief it- ing: First, a prohibitory tariff, which
self. The lines between occupations arc shall save to Amei-ican workmen the
sharply drawn, and the different classes privilege of producing what is sold in
are mistrusted as enemies. this country second, a restriction of
The workiugmen, who have recently immigration, (not only Asiatic but Eurisen to the dignity of considering their ropean,) which shall relieve them of
own interests, and measuring their competition with th( whole world; and
strength against capitalists and corpor- third, a limitation in the production of
ations, accordingly make many startling human beings, and especially of nedemands, as might be expected of those groes, which at present furnishes too
who for the first time consider their own great a supply of labor.
interests. Having been deprived of These demands, though unfortunate
many of their rights, they think, in wak- in some respects, will be pursued withing up to the fact, that they are deprived out much moral consideration. For
of still others; and having received some while the moralist will resist them in
concessions, they hope to receive more the interest of humanitarianism, an age
than is possible. They are still in some so practical will not stop long at ethical
chaos, and there is an indiscriminate considerations, when the interest of the
complaint about nearly everything in people seems concerned, which not only
society, with an equally indiscriminate overrides all other considerations, but
hope that it will be remedied by some itself gives validity to such considera
new social system. tions.
Of late there are some signs, indeed, The need of the workingmen, we have
of returning discrimination. Workmen said, is to remove excessive competition.