The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-09

Combinations aud strikes strikers and Com
Diners,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr There Is
not much in a name. 1t is only valuable in the
degree in which 1t accurately Expresses or quail
ines condition or thing. II given number
OF workingmen combine together for the pur-
pose Of mutual support, and to give efficiency
and success TO such enterprises as in their
judgment are essential to secure for thcm en-
ploymont at rcmunerativc wages, that is called
II wOrkingmen's union.
If certain chartered or corporate bodies unite
in movement, or form an organization for the
purpose of doing certain things which in their
judgment is essential to give success to tho en-
terprisc in which they are interested, that is
called combination.
In the instance, for example Of the first named.
II they are engineers. nremen. brakemen.
switch tenders. or miners. whose wages have
been reduced TO price per day which, in their
Judgment is unfair. because II Is not n full con-
sidcration for the services which they are re-
quired to give for such wages and they refuse
to work. and cndcHvOr to persuade others not
OF their union to not work for such unfair
prices per day. that is called strike.
If in the other instance say that of a number
OF great railroad corporations, their managers
determine that tho freight prices are not us re-
muncrative rs they should be- and they fix q
higher scale Of prices as freight charges and
roads unless the new rate of charges shall be
paid and en1cavor to induce other railroad
companies TO unite with them in refusing to
carry freight unless the fixed new rates shall be
paid that is called "A railroad combination. and
so it is. 1t is an almost. If not an absolutely ir
rcsstbe combination OF Incorporated carriers
OF freight against those who have to pay freight
charges. 1t IL an effort to advance the pccunia-
ry intcrcsts of certain class Of men at the cx-
pcnse Of the pecunary interests OF those whose
necessities IA traders. manufacturers. mcr-
| chants. or farmers compel them to make Use of
the facilities which these railroad organizations
control for carrying freight Should those who
have goods grain or other articles which they
| desire TO forward over the railroads which the
combination " controls. refuse to pay other than
| the old freight charges. their goods. grain. &c..
| will not be received 10y the combination. but
| will be allowed to accumulate in their stores.
| granarics factories. end warehouses and thus
| their trade with their customers will be
| riousy embarrassed.
Again. suppose that the combination is made
NJ of those who are Interested in working coal
| mines. and in railroads over which more than
| ninety per cent. Of all the marketable anthra-
| cite coal is carried. and that this combina-
| ton, for the purpose Of keeping up or raising
the price of coal. this essential of comfort and
permit only given quantity. and that II mini
mum quantity. to be shipped from the mines TO
| the great coal markets. Is not this IA strike. 10
| all intents and purposes. by the combination II
| corporate interests. against those who are in
terestcd in obtaining coal At the lowest prices.
which free trade and sailors rights. or, in other
words. good healthful competitive trade in
mining and carrying Of coal. would enable
them to purchase it for2 Is not this nm array by
association, combination. union, Of one great
| interest against another great or greater inter-
| est?
II the workingmen are to be found fault with
and condemned because Of their combinations.
their unions, per Sc. to advance their pecuniary
interests by obtaining the largest fairly rcmu-
| neratve prices for their labor and skill. shall
we not have to find fault with and condemn cor
poratc bodies for doing the same thing for u
similar purpose: or Is II "a crime in one and a
virtue in the other because one has only labor
and skilled industry its capital stock in trade
while the other has vast sums of money, credit
and extraordinary corporate privileges as their
capital stock in trade? Is il a crime for men in
a state Of simple non-corporate organization to
do that which capital in its corporate capacity
may do and has done over and over again with
impunity2 We ask these questions and leave
their answers to those whose wisdom is assoc
ciated with justice. and who with US may be-
lieve that soullcss corporations are not bet
ter nor wiser than simple non-corporate organ
izatious Of men. and that corporations should
not have privileges which secure them In til,
safe and uumolested practice Of such things as
would bring their corporators, il done in theii
capacities as individuals, before criminal cuurt-
rs grave offenders.
1t has been said that the present unfortunate
and much-to- be- deplored strike and its asso
cianted outrnges. are the results, virtually. Of
war between labor and capital. This We regar,
as nm error. 1t Is contest between men ant
corporations. We at times hear and read mucl
Of the adverse interests Of labor and capital
that one Is constantly endeavoring 10 obtain tn,
mastery over the other. We DO not believe W,
never did believe. that there can ever be any
real hostility between labor and capital. know
ing as we do that. for vigorous support. health
, full and Legitimate action. the two are mutually
dependent; that the one being Withdrawn from
the other they both withcr. decay, and die Bu
We do know that corporate interests and ndi
vldual interests are constantly living in a stat
, Of active hostility and conflict with each other
aud that this is "a natural sequence, growing GU
OF their respective Inherent conditions-th
conditions Of the ono being such as sprIn.
lrEitimatrly out Of the rights. privileges. an
ncrcssities of man. his endowments from hi
: Creator; the other being such ms have bee
I created 10y legislation, and that legislation to
I often a fostering fraud. which has had IA it
procuror bribery the most foul, barcfaced, an
| unhlushing. Who can, nay, who will. in thcs
p dark DAYS when leg station. national, state, an
p, ! municipal, has become the synonymc of all vii
anies. have the hardihood 10 contradict thi
>. deliberately uttered declaration and chullcng
} the proof2
= We are passing through a period Of extra