THE LABOR MOVEMENT:

THE PROBLEM OF TO-DAY.

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THE HISTORY, PURPOSE AND

POSSIBILITIES OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

IN EUROPE AND AMERICA; GUILDS, TRADES-
UNIONS, AND KNIGHTS OF LABOR; WAGES AND PROFITS;
HOURS OF LABOR; FUNCTIONS OF CAPITAL; CHINESE LABOR;
COMPETITION; ARBITRATION; PROFIT-SHARING AND
CO-OPERATION; PRINCIPLES OF THE KNIGHTS OF
LABOR; MORAL AND EDUCATIONAL AS-
PECTS OF THE LABOR QUESTION.

EDITED BY

GEORGE E. MCNEILL,

First Deputy of Mass., Bureau of Statistics of Labor; Sec.-Treas. of
D. A. 30, Knights of Labor.

ASSOCIATE AUTHORS:

TERENCE V. POWDERLY,

G. M. W., K. of L.; DR. EDMUND J.

JAMES, University of Pennsylvania; HON. JOHN

J. O'NEILL, of Missouri; HON. J. M. FARQUHAR, of New
York; HON. ROBERT HOWARD, of Massachusetts; HENRY GEORGE,
of New York; RICHARD TREVELLICK, of Michigan; JOHN JARRETT,
of Pennyslvania; REV. R. IEBER NEWTON, of New York; F. K. FOSTER, of
Massachusetts; P. M. ARTHUR, Chief Engineer Locomotive Brotherhood;
J. S. SAYERS, President Locomotive Firemen; F. H. GIDDINGS,
"Springfield Union"; JOHN MCBRIDE, Secretary Coal
Miners' Union; D. J. O'DONOGHUE, of Toronto,
Canada; P. J. MCGUIRE, Secretary
Carpenters' Brotherhood, Ohio.

BOSTON:

A. M. BRIDGMAN & CO.

NEW YORK:

THE M. W. HAZEN CO.

C. V. LECRAW & CO., New York; O. H. P. APPLEGATE, St. Louis, Mo.; A. ROMAN,
San Francisco, Cal.; GATELY & CONROY, Cincinnati, O.; JOHN W. ILIFF

& CO., Chicago, Ill.; M. W. ELLSWORTH & CO., Detroit, Mich.;
THE HERALD PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO., Erie,
Penn., and N. G. HAMILTON & CO., Cleveland, O.

PREFACE.

TH

HE worker, the thinker, the student, the statesman and the capitalist are all forced, by the pressure of events, to consider the Labor Movement and the Labor Problem. All are witnesses of the power of combination for good or evil. All may know that systems of industry change by slow, evolving processes, and that these prosesses of growth culminate in crises of mighty import. The capitalist, seeking profit or gain, and the worker, seeking better and easier condition, may work as partners, with common interests, or wage unrelenting war for the mastery. That the victory will come to the side of justice and equity is the certain prophecy of history.

This book is an attempt to contribute something to the peaceful solution of the Labor problem. The history of the Labor Movement is the story of civilization. It has manifested itself in all times and under all conditions of life. The eternal query of life is, How to obtain comfort? The prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread," is uttered by Pagan and Christian alike; and this demand for sustenance is supplemented by the hope for equity. So long as outward evidences of aggregate prosperity are present, we are apt to forget or neglect to know the conditions of some of those who contribute to the results. In Europe, the frequent and almost continuous periods of distress have compelled attention; and philanthropist, statesman and student have done much, especially in England and France, to provide a literature covering almost every phase of the movement. Dr. Edmund J. James, of the University of Pennsylvania, has so admirably condensed that history in his three chapters of this book, as to need no editorial comment. In this country, the extent