The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-09-19
THE SYSTEM OF STRIKES.

II ally argument were rcpuIeu W Iepub
the oft repeated assertion that trades
unions are the nursery Of strikes, the an
swer would be found in the action Of our
National and International Trades Asso-
Citations, when dealing with this much
vexed question. For years past they have
declared openly and above board, that they
depreicste them except as de,nier resort.
In fact the current of their legislation has
been to discountenance them, unless in in
stances where forbearance means serfdom,
and the ear of the tyrant has been closed to
the appeal Of truth or justice. In the col
umns Of the various trades journals We find
from month to month articles which would
do credit to the pen of any writer-incul-
eating these ideas, and insisting that
strikes are foreign to the aims and pur-
poses of labor associations. Nay, they
have gone further they have advised
where difficulty occurs between the EN-
ployer and the employe, that the system
Of arbitration should be substituted, when
ever and wherever arbitration is practic-
able. Can any Of the associations Of EN-
ployers say as much
Still there is no Disgusting the fact that
many of our trade organizations, which
have never counted the cost, which have
never wandered in the valley of adversely,
despite these injunctions-ha frequently
rushed in where angels feared to tread, and
it is to this class especially we now desire
to address ourselves. We do not say that
strikes" are in all cases unadvised, far
from it, but we insist that large number
Of them may be avoided-or made success
full by adopting rational line Of policy /;
especially is this true of organizations Of
recent formation. A dozen trouts will
jump at the fly, while one Solomon is
weighing the situation. If the matter was
left TO our decision, we would prohibit, un-
der any circumstances a local lodge or
union q" striking" during the first year Of
the existence Of the National Union, and
bnc CucCh lO uOuOL Oc
beneficial 1t is this availless striking, as
soon as organization is effected which q yes
employers and their toadies plausible ex-
cuse for enlisting public sympathy, and
giving shadow of reason to their reckless
charges. Let the fact be recognized that
1t is folly to strike, .Otsre failure is assured,
and this truth is too frequently ignored,
and men will be very apt to think tlcice be-
fore they jump. Suppose for example,
while promptly paying their dues, and
recognizing the authority Of the " Nation
al, they have tosubmit, for the time being,
to an unjust exaction, are they any
worse of than they would have been in an
isolated condition But they have the
satisfaction of knowing that the funds
which they have been contributing, are to
be appropriated at the proper time, and
under the proper auspices, for their own
benefit, when the treasury warrants it; and
when those to whom they have entrusted
the management of affairs see the course
clear, and their sister unions act a. q unit
a strike means success, instead Of de.
mOralization and defeat.
Strikes, to be successful, must receive
the sanction and pecuniary aid of the local
A guerilla warfare seldom,
if ever, accompanies any appreciable good.
Let the grievance complained of be placed
before the local unions let intelligent &C.
ton be taken thereon, and full and free
expression Of opinion obtained. Let the
pros and cons-the merits and dement's of
the case be fully discussed, with the under
standing that Eyes" means an open
pocket beck, and "no closed one, and
the certainty is that both workmen and
employers will alike weigh the situation
well before they rashly rush into a need
less conflict.