, 1874-04-19

Ihe trouble between capitalists and laborors
ls growing to an alarming extent special tol-
cgram to TnE TRIBUNE from our correspondent
at Pottsrillo, Penn, few days sinco coaroved
the Intelligence that TO- 600 iron-workors wero
on strike there at that time We have no dis
position to question the right OF 1aborors to
do What they can to better their condition, or to
obtain for their work the highest possible COM
pensation. Although a. strike is always to bo
regretted, inaenuch as it checks the prosperity
OF the community in which it takos place. there
! is no, reason Why the strikers should be inter
fered with By the State simply because they are
| on strike. The 1aborar lias right to demand
"het he viii for his labor. Labor
ers. have right to combine to bring
about IN increase in their wages All
this is conceded But then, Hurely, there arc
some rights which employers have, and which
employees are bound to respect. If manufac-
turer makes I contract with a laborer, he is TO-
sponslble to him in damages ii he fails to keep
it. Should not the laborer be held responsible
in some way if he faila to keep his part Of the
contract? The sovereign power Of the State has
always watched over the performance Of con-
tracts, and sometimes undertakes to enforce
contracts specifically. Why should it not SEQ to
1t TINT laborors keep their contracts With their
employers? When the term Of their contract
has expired, lot them strike for higher wares if
they will. Until it has expired, they should
keep their agreement. We repeat it, there are
some rights employers have which e1np1oyes ara
bound to respect. Employers have right to tho
performance of contracts made between them and
their employees. Tho 1eborers of this country
nre Intelligent enough to know that contracts are
made to be kept, and that the yiolc.iou Of 4
contract is visited by civil liabilities. i
The breach OF contracts by 1aborerg in tha I
form OF strikes is an evil which ia attracting at
tentton elsewhere. A remedy against such vio- |
lation must be sought. The trades-unious are |
50 powerful and so numerous that they nav work !
infinite mischief it the mon who compose them
cannot be relied upon in any instance to abide |
by the terms of their agreements. Strikes era a |
comparatively now feature in our Social life.
There is little law concerning them. What pro-
duces them ia really little understood 1t would
not be amiss to institute an inquiry to ascer-
tain the number Of trades-unious in tlo
country, the causes that produce them, the
strikes that ha7o taken place, md their |
or un1easonableness. On1v m
acos.rate information can anything like rational
Judgment be passed. In Germany we notice a
has been created to institute such m
inquiry, and it is now prosecuting its work.
When the results OF its Investigations are made
public we think they viii throw unexpected light
N the question Of the relations between capital
nd labor,-perhaps suggest remedy for strikes
n some cases. In the meantime, ia German ,
government has proposed bill to Parliament ! ,
making it . criminal ofreusp for labornr tn viz
ate his contract with his employer, and for the :
aaater to violate his contract with the l.bo,er-
breach being visited with punishment in cor. | +
ectional establishment. Whether this ia irst;ca | ,
Z not, ne are not prepared to say. The breach
10 other contract is puniehaole in this man. |
er' at least in this country; and it NAV be
Quilted whethaf contract betHeen uanufao- | =