New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-03
UNSUCCESSFUL STRIK rs.

OF the many strikes which we have been called
upon to chronicle during the last few months. w"
do not now recall one which has accomplished
the purpose either of rails ng wages or Of prevent
ing their elimination. One of the most obstinate
turnouts-that at the Wamsutta Mills, in New
Bedford, Mass-resulted in the triumph of the
corporation, and the mandatory Is now running,
at least to "a full an extent as lis owners find to
he probably profitable. Of the potters' strike
in Trenton, n. j., we hear nothing more,
and we presume that the employers there have
no difficulty Ill procuringall the wOl amen needed
ut the prices which they offered. The threatened
strike OF the employees of the Erie Railway will
amount to nothing The new RITES have been
formally accepted by them, and all is going on
smoothly. The fact is, this pretty poor season
for strikes, since the supply of skilled labor Is
evidently in excess OF demand ia almost every
department of industry. These matters are
regulated by a law which is much older than the
oldest Trade Union, and which the closest
combination will find irrepealable The noise,
nc threats, the abandonment of contracts, and
the iDudicious violence are upon one sde-upon
the other is tho simple truth that commodity
is worth what it will fetch in open market
while tie price il regulated by many and vari-
Gus circumstance which it is impossible TO
subject to any fixed and Interchangeable rule.
What was only moderate pay during the era
Of high prices consequent upon the civil war,
might be profuse prOdigality at present. 1t Is
for the employer to determine what he will
give. and it is for his interest to give as much
IA no can possibly aiford-it is for the empioye
IN determine what he will take. II, upon calm
consideration OF his best interest he thinks MS
labor worth more than he Is getting tor IL, lie
has q right, after fair notice OF ms intehtioh'
to abandon it. But he has no i1ght 10 en-
leavor 10 force any fell0w-crattSmen 10 follow
him. Each must decide for himself with full
liberty to stay or to go, when he has completed
his contract, expressed or implied.
Eut we have not intended at present to argue
the question Of the equity OF morality OF strikes.
There are certain matters which settle them
selves, sooner or later, without argument, and
the price of labor happens 20 be one o. Them.
Take the whole mass of strikes, since they came
into fashion, and 1t will lt found that they
have cost the employed much more than the
employer This is conspicnoisly true Of the re-
cent strike of the artisans of the Wamsutta
Mills. which, while it involved the work
men in a loss of several hundred thou
sand dollars, actually made money for
the mill owners. One point to be settled is
whether laborcrs shall tyrannize over employers;
but much more important point is whether
one portion of the employed shall tyrannize over
another What is needed is the perfect liberty
of managing his own affairs according to his
own best Judgment, which is every mans in
alenablo r. yht. If ne chooses to sell himself
body ana soul to Trade Union. he must take
the consequences of his folly; but if he prefers,
like man, to act for himself. then it is the
business of the law to protect his property in
himself just us it protects all other property.