The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-10-11
rHK QUESTION ~ srKTKEs.


In conformity with the terms Of said reso-
luton, We desire first to call your attention To
the change in the laws relating 60 Strikes. II
was fully admitted by all members that the
alarming frequency Of strikes was fast re-
ducing the number Of our members, and de-
stroying the usefulness Of the international
and Local Unions I; and that some change
whereby useless strikes could be restricted il
not entirely avoided, was imperatively de
handed. At previous sessions Of the Inter
national Union, several plans looking to ar
bitration as peaceful means Of preventing
strikes have been submitted, but it was not
until the last session that the system Of arhi-
tration was engrafted in the Constitution as
means to which we could resort in time of
difficulty The plan is perhaps crude, but
that it affords basis for future legislation
will be evident to all ANY method Of set
ting disputes by arbitration is highly com
mendable, and the first efforts Of the Inter
national Union in this direction should be
hailed with delight BY all
We have learned BY the bitter experience
Of the nast that strikes are a. a two-edged
sword i'm the hands Of those who resort to
them, and are not productive Of the amount
Of good their advocates claim for them. We
are opposed, utterly opposed "a strikes, except
ton in dispute to arbitration had been re-
jected by the employers. anil all other means
have failed to bring about Just and peac, =
able settlement u the questions in dispute.
Let any member Of our organization look at
the rise, progress and termination Of the va
rious strikes in our trade for the last two
years, and what are the results . In nearly
every instance the same. Large sums OF
money expended. And invariably the dissOlu-
ton u the Union engaged IN il. We 10 not
wish to be understood that we are hostile to
those Unions Who engage in strikes, but 10
the principle only, simply because we know
that il persisted IN u will inevitably work de-
struction to our Organization. Shall We con
tinue, then, to employ such a ruInous system
for the redress OF our wrongs We sincerely
hope our fellow craftsmen throughout the
country will never again have recourse to
anything Of the kind, As they only engender
bitter feelings and hatred in both parties.
Let us. then. try and suPercede them by a
more peaceful mode Of redress, one calcu-
lated to preserve the utmost good feeling be
tween the employer and the employe. We
earnestly hope that our fellow craftsmen will
ponder and weigh this matter carefully in
their minds, and give their aid and support
in bringing about the reform which our trade
imperatively demands. But that strikes can
always and entirely be avoided, We do not as
sumo. There are occasions v ,en it is abso-
lutely necessary when all other means have
fAiledl in order TO preserve our principles Of
right. Justice and manhood, to resort to a
strike. Then our action should be short,
sharp and decisive, in order to insure success.
The required assistance to sustain such strike
should be promptly Forthcoming. No delay,
no dilatory action on the part OF those from
whom support Is expected, should he per
mitted. We have had too much Of this in
the past, and we now desire to impress upon
all Local Unions the necessity of rendering
the necessary assistance promptly to aid an
approved strike BY withholding the assist;
ance called for, YOU not only violate your OBJ
h0ation to the international Union, but it Is
a Qross breach Of faith to those Local Unions
who render assistance, and those who stand
in need Of it while struggling for their rights.
Who will deny that if many Of the strikes Of
the past year had been properly sustained,
the results would have been different and
that our Organization, which now languIshes,
would have been vigorous and strong!
In this connection we would call your 1t
tsntioa 70 the change in the Law which pro-