The Greatest Problem

The Cocker League entertainment Moneveningconeistedof a mandolín and guitar duet by Messr?. Ewald and Crowl, two recitations by Mrs. Mabel A. Lowrey, Longfellow'g "Arrow Song" by J. E. Modge, and a thirty-minute talk by Prof. Henry C. Adams on " The industrial and social effect of the great inventiona." Prof. Adams portrayed the great industrial revolution wrought by inventiong since 1776, and its social and industrial effects. The era of invention is scarcely one hundred years oH. There is greater difference in methods of manufacture between our time and 1776, than between Homer's time and 1776. In that year the gpinning jenny began the era of invention. The Bteam engine soon solved the question of power, and Davy's lamp enabled coal-mining to be carried to great length. On the basis of the census for 1880, it would requi.-e 257,000,000 people to do by oíd methods what 50,000,000 did by aid of machinery. The increase of efficiency of labor was about 5 to 1. The secret of riches in this nineteenth certury is man's utilization of a part of the latent power in coal. Prof. Adarns spoke of the great possibilities which invention seemed to open to mankind, and ne asked if we were realiz ing them. Are the LABORING CLASSES PARTAKINO OF THE BENEFITS 't There are three things manifest as the direct result of the industrial revolution which he had pictured : 1. The laboring class 13 clearly differentiated. What he means is that in the eighteenth century and earlier there was no class corresponding to our laboring class today. In many G-erman cities in ieudal times the workingmen were the aristocracy ; they ruled the cities of Germany. Of course he does not mean to say that there is not another side to this view; their condition was not perfect. In England in feudal times, all emplovers were once apprentices. That was possible so long as the work was hand-work ; but not possible in the era of invention. In the old form of industry the workingraan in England owned nis house and tools. Hiswages were the product of his labor. There was a rude independence for this class which is not seen in our workingmen today, who cannot own their houses and tools, and who are largely dependent. in those times laborera could control the conditions about them, and right here is the kernel of the labor problem today : How shall laborers secure control of the conditions nnder which they work? 2. The second result of the revolution wrought by invention is that industry is no longer steady. Ia one period of three or more years, all are employed and there ia great activity ; then industry is normal for a time ; and then comes inactivity, a time when hundreds of thousands are idle of necessity. This was not so under the old System. The employer then could not discharge without giving a long notice. When any slight depression occurred, the employer carried the workingmen over it. The speaker pointed out the immense importance of thig differenee, as crime and degredation follow surely upon industrial depressions which enforce idlenesa. 3. The third thing to consider in the effects of machinery is, Are laborera better off than formerly? It is impossible to answer this by yes or no. What do we mean by laborers? Skilied or unskilled ? And better off than at what time ? There are many things to be considered, but broadly speakbg, he thinks that unakilled labor is better off now than it used to be; but it is questionable in regard to skilied labor. The general effect of the introduotion of machinery was bad until 1820, when laboring men broke away from older ideas and have gained by organization an advance. But they would not have gained it without organization. Then the humanitarian spirit has come into legislation since 1820. The laboring class has made a steady advance since that year ; but not so fast as other classes. The progress is absolute, not relative. Thus workingmen have a grievance. Prof. Adams thinks this is the most stupendous question of all times : How shall we make laws so that the advantages of our civilization shall be justly distributed ?