Arnold J. Toynbee Quotes
We must remember that the real problem is not how to produce some improvement in the condition of the working man— for that has to a certain extent been attained already— but how to secure his complete material independence.
Arnold J. Toynbee, 1852-1883, English Economic Historian & Reformer, Uncle of Historian Arnold J. Toynbee, Lectures on The Industrial Revolution in England, 1884
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Labor reform was a burning issue in most of the industrialized countries of the world. The two areas that legislation was under consideration all over were working hours and child labor. There were no overtime provisions, employers were free to require workers to work 7 days for as many hours as they wanted. There were no limitations on the use of child labor. This is one of the classic conservative oppositions to these reforms. Ironically to us today, those against reform argued that it was disrespectful of the working man to take away his freedom to work whatever hours he so chose, and it was disrespectful of the workers role as a head of family to decide for him when and under what conditions his children could work. Germany at the time was a very dramatic example of the struggle as the Chancellor was opposed to all labor reform and Kaiser Wilhelm II felt that reforms were needed. The two most powerful Germans were split on this issue as were people in most countries.
At the time, the mine owners and operators claimed that they had NO obligations to their workers—not even to ensure a safe mine. There was no OSHA and workers died and were maimed on the job much more frequently than they do today. Many mine owners now accept that they have obligations to the workers, and the rest are required to have responsible and safe working conditions by law and OSHA regulations.
This was written in the early years of the Great Depression. Over 25 percent of Americans were out of world. The stock market had crashed and many banks failed wiping out family savings where there was any. Social Security, Bank and Stock Market Regulations were not yet passed. The New Deal government was just starting creating jobs, but there was great concern that the capitalistic system had failed. Thomas and other critics were right that the U. S. Government had not before used its machinery for “ease and security of living”; they called for the adoption of state socialism. President Roosevelt however instead reformed American capitalism by adding substantial regulation, provided direct relief to the unemployed poor, stimulated the economy, created Social Security, Federal Deposit Bank Insurance, unemployment insurance and initiated massive public works programs. It took almost a decade but American Capitalism was saved and transformed to the greatest industrial output and standard of living increase the world had known. It was not until 2008 that the capitalistic American economy melted down again. Regulation of corporations had diminished. The banks failed and had to be bailed out again but as the result of Social Security, Unemployment Insurance and other programs there was some cushioning of the effect of the Great Recession. The middle and lower class insecurity was back along with the wealthy taking a much larger proportion of the national wealth. The big difference was that few called for an end to capitalism and the political debate was on how best to fix the weaknesses of capitalism. Even most socialists around the world had built their Social Democracies around a capitalistic economic structure.
Two years later he was assassinated.
Arnold Joseph Toynbee CH FBA was a British historian, a philosopher of history, an author of numerous books and a research professor of international history at the London School of Economics and King's College London. From 1918 to 1950, Toynbee was considered a leading specialist on international affairs.
