Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-06-09
Strikes.

The excitement of labor revolt hav
ing died out, there is now manifested
a disposition to return to work on the
part of the striking operatives at Low
ell, and throughout the Lehigh Goa
region in Pennsylvania. This ending
of the organized demonstration Is not
unexpected, but in accordance with
every precedent, t.c circumstances
under which it was undertaken at this
time being peculiarly unfavorable to
success. With labor anxiously seek,
ing employment on every hand, the
mule spinners Of the Lowell mills
simply surrendered their occupation
to others who were ready and waiting
to take their places the mills contin-
ued production without embarrass-
ment; and now, after six weeks OF
idlenesS. the misguided strikers find
that their applications for work at the
old rates are met by the answer that
no vacancies exist. The situation in
to which these men have been brought
by following pernicious. counsels is so
melancholy that the general sentiment
is that Of pity rather than codemna-
tons. The rebuke falls heavily upon
the system Of trade combinations,
which is used by unscrupl ous and
selfish agltations to compel The ndi-
yidual workman to yield up his rights
and torgo his duties to himself and bis
family for the sake of lurhering an
impractlcable scheme Of securing i'm
possible advantages. But for those
who now poorer by the loss Of six
weeks wages, in debt for the means
of subsistence aud demoralizcd by
continued idlcness, find the doors Of
the factories closed against them, there
is only commiseration. The fact that
hundreds Of skilled operatives are
forced by the failure of this ill-advised
strike to leave the city and wander
elsewhere in search Of work, is Of it
self sufficient to cause general regret.
In the action taken by the agents
of the mill at Lowell, requiring u
pledge from each operative individual
" that he will remain free to control
his own labor without association in
any union for that purpose, there Is
seen not only proper endeavor to
protect themselves, but an attempt TO
cas-: off the bonds which have re
strained them SO injuriously heretofore.
The trade union is an imported idea
that has no place in American policy,
where the liberty Of the individual is
the basis Of the whole social and pollt
zeal structure. 1t assumes that the
workman is Il mere producing ma
chine, with no personal rights to pro-
tect when the union declares that he
must yield them, and no privilege of
vrofiting by the special skill, talent or
steadiness that he may possess. 1t Is
no position for an American citizento
voluntarily assume; and if the course
of events at Lowell succeeds i'll con-
vincing the operatives that the best Of
their rights is the right to work when
and where and how they prefer in ac-
cordancc with their individual inter
ests, a long step will be made toward
the emancipation OF labor. The end
of this strike discloses a feature that
is seldom absent, i'll the shape OF dis
with the leaders and or
GAMERS Of the movement. While
the workmen have been suffering for
the necessities OF life or existing on
the charity of others, the professional
agitators have drawn their regular sal
airy from the treasury Of the union.
The earnings OF the laborcrs have gone
into the pockets Of those whose efforts
have kept them out OF wages Tor SIX
weeks. Although the money loss Of
the strike is greater many fold chan
the proposed increase OF wages would
make up had it been secured, the
most torcible lesson OF this failure is
found in its demonstration Of the
weakness and folly Of yielding up the
rights of labor to the manipulation of
paid and selfish agentS.-BOSton Post.