[Letter] March 3,1887,Smith College [to F.H. Giddings]

March 3, 1887, Smith College.

Dear Mr. Giddings,
            The Mt. Holyoke
teachers tell me that their
term closes on the 24th
inst., and that they would
greatly like to have the
Econ. Club meeting put
on 21st if practicable, in
order that they might not
lose it; although they did
not make this as a request.
One of them suggested that
there might be members in
Springfield who would be
inconvenienced by the
change - members of a
Chatauqua circle, I believe, or
of something else. I told them
I would see what it was best
to do. It is possible Dr.
Steele may need more time than
from now to 21st. Would
you mind asking any member
of Council you may see for
his views on the point,
and perhaps, sending either
to me or to one of the
ladies the conclusion reached?
If you write to me please
give me the names of some
of the ladies, as I do not
know them.
 I am moved to ask a
question that may border on
impudence. Work and Wages
was founded for the sake of
"promoting better relations between
capital and labor," and, very
properly, announced that fact
under its title. Is the
object in view promoted or
retarded by retaining the
phrase? Will the influence
of the paper on workmen be
greater or less because of the
fact that it announces to
them that it will do something
toward reconciling them to
their employers? Would it
or would it not be likely to
increase the influence of the
paper, first, with workmen
and, secondly, with intelligent
readers of general economic
literature, if it were styled
simply A Monthly Journal
Devoted to the Discussion of
Topics connected with Labor
and Capital, or words to
that effect? Excuse the
audacity of the young man
who makes such a suggestion.
As they say in parliamentary
bodies, I do it for the sake of
discussion. I may be wholly
wrong in my impressions. You
will see, I know, a certain good
intention dictating the inquiry.

          Yours Very Truly,
                     J. B. Clark