Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-03-24

The following article from the Bos
ton Republican is suited to this locali-
ey:
Not only the political economist, but
almost every man sees that there IS 10
question at the present time more in
teresting and important than this,
How may strikes be prevented? The
largest businesses ana industries Of the
country may be utterly deranged, the
price of the most necessary articles, a.
coal aud cotton cloth, may he greatly
enhanced, thousands of men in com
Portable circumstances may be thrown
out of employment and their families
reduced to want. Notwithstanding
that provisions are abundant and
cheap, and that there is work a. re-
mum eretive wages for all willing TO
labor. All this may be brought about
sud ienly, unexpectedly, at any time,
through the medium of strike, MS
has been shown in very many ru-
stances.
How may so much evil be preveu-
ted? We are told in reply that the
fault is with the working classes in
accepting SUI. miserable cOuDsC lOrs
in submitting the tyranny of such
-. s,..ti. - ,tiUtr.- ,,ud lvadSra The an
question is instantly suggested, how
came the working classes in the power
of such assocla IONS and such leaders
IL is the proper answer to this ques-
ton which throws the needed light
on the whole subject. The relations
between the Employers and the en-
ployrd are IL" What they should be,
hecall-,. the iuI.aer have failed 10 gam
The confidence of the latter, L. obtain
IN Il influence with them which they
might have had. Certainly there is
something wrong when the words of a
contemplate, ignorant demagogue
have more weight than the plainest
facts, the most conclusive reasoning,
when those whose interests are really
identical with the wOrkingman's have
no influence over him. The employer
ought to have, might have, more intiu
ence than anyone else over those who
work for him. Why is it not so q?
Sometimes ii is because he is not will
ling that they should have a fair share
of the profits of his business. They
see him selfish and grasping instead of
just and generous, and they come to
hate him as an enemy when he might
haves made them love him as their
best friend.
Very often, however, another eXpla-
nation is the true one. The employer
does give his men a fair share of his
profits. He may even be making
nothing himself and yet continue to
pay them good wages. Nevertheless
he is at fault. How? BY not so man.
ifesting his interest in his operatives,
his sympathy for them as to gain their
affections, their confidence. He has
held himself aloof from them, never
entered their homes, never conversed
with them in private, never appeared
to care what were their feelings, their
opinions, their joys, their sorrows,
their anXieties, their hopes. He has
treated them as if between him and
them stretched social chasm as broad
and impossible as the gulf between
Dives and Lazarus. What wonder
that they turn from him to those dem
agogues though they be, who seem to
regard them as men and equals. The
proper exhibition of real respect, SYM
patty, love, would, and most power
fully too, establish such relations be-
tween the employers and the employ.
ed, to awaken such feelings in the lat
ter towards the former as would effect
ually prevent strikes.