Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-26
THE LABOR WAR.

The working mems rebellion is the en-
crossing topic ofconversation and newspaper
editorials, and while there is expressed a
general sympathy with the impoverished
laborers, the terrible result of their atrike
for bread renders their course one which
Law abiding citizens cannot defend. But
there is strongly manifested among the
better class of strikers a disposition to avoid
destruction of life and property. Whils
they are firm in their determination to
compel employers, to come to their terms
they are guided by sufficient wisdom to keep
their heads comparatively cool and exer-
else their best endeavors to avoid all con-
ficts. The lower grade Of laborers the
ignorant, bigoted class-led on by men
who never labor and make no
pretensions to earning a livelihood, have
been the instruments of most Of the destruc.
ton which marked the inception Of the riot
and has followed its progress with varying
severity. That the cause Of all these dis
turbers Of the peace is a just cause can hard
~ be denied, much as we may deprecate the
means employed in its behalf. IF the masses
could be guided by the wisdom of the few
who see that the better remedy for their
troubles lies in the strength of their ballots,
rather than in revolution, such scenes might
be averted. But ignorance and prejudice
are difficult to convince and it is not sur
prising-when we look into the inner lives
of these toiling thousands, upon the motives
which control them, their sincere conviction
that brute force is the only wv to
which they can appeal-that the conflict is
upon us. They realize by actual suffering
that their compensation is not sufficient to
provide themselves and their families with
food and raiment. The public realizes it by
a simple mathematical calculation which
shows that if a man working on a railroad
receives for his days labor 90 cents, S1.35
or $3.50, the wages reached by the last re-
duction, and if it costs him from rs cents to
Sl.00 per day for his living while on the
road, there viii be very little left for the
support OF his family at home. The situa-
ton becomes one of extreme Importance to
the workman, who sees actual want before
him. He throws off all restraint of the
laws, attempts to force from his employer
the living which is his due, and the public
sympathizes with him, because the public is
human and is forever the champion of the
oppressed.
Whatever may be the outcome of the
present conflict between labor and capital,
the lesson to the country will be fraughtw with
good. Revolutions accomplish more in a
short space of time than patient, lawful APP
peals through long periods of tedious years.
The best intellect of the country will now
the condition Of the working classes. We
are brought to realize that we have in our
midst a powerful element for good or for bad
and that it is for The interests of the country
to aid them towards the better way. If rail
Is cannot afford to pay their men living
wages then they should be compelled to cease
their efforts at cutting each others throats
by the system of ruinous competition which
has characterized their operations during
several years past. A fair compensation 70,
transportation will be willingly paid by til,
people and a fair compensation is one which
will enable railroad corporations to pa,
their laborers sufficient wages to obviote tn
necessity for strikes.