Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-08-02
Terms-S1.5O Per Annum.
THE STRIKE.

known in the history of our cu,tn-
try. 4.
We have teen accustomed to pe-
riodical strikes in some one or other
branch of industry as many differ
ent localities affecting the interests
only of the employers of labor in
such particular branch of production,
but to-day we are confronted with n
strike that has epedemic like spread
over this country from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, of such magnitude us
to effect all industries and paralyze
the business of the nation. Let us
for moment examine into the cause
and effect of this war upon capital.
Summing up the whole it is a
direct result of our gravitating to-
wards specie resumption, result
similar to that experienced by Great
Britain after the close OF her foreign
wars i'm returning Co specie nav
ments, 50 that in the worlds history
it is no new thing: but why IS it that
because OF our present financial con-
dition such must be recorded? Be
cause Of the outbreak OF the inflated
ideas of the war, Corporations and
individuals doing business paid in
fiated prices for labor, Wofkingmen
lived in inflated style, had inflated
ideas as to the neceSSarieS of life,
counting luXurleS as neceSSaries, in
fact inflated In all EFeir ideas. A
financial revolutionCame, all classes
of property deprecated, the volume
of business Shrank, the profits on the
productions OF labor, coupled with
the employment of capital diminish
ed wonderfully, and as consequent
result the prices of labor had to be
abated. expenses curtailed by reduc-
tionS of clerical and laEoring forces,
rigid economy becamea u necessity in
order to survive the depression.
The "live within your incune" law
is true as well OF corporations and
governments as it is OF individuals
and whoever fails TO heed this law
must sooner or later become engulph-
ed in financial ruin. -
Again, capt and labor are twin
sisters: what is to the interest OF one
is beneficial. to the other. when one
suffers the other, must feel the pre.
judicial effects, and they cannot i'm a
general way be at war with each
other without mutual loss, nor can
one make prolonged war upon the
other successfully. But 1t seems to
be bitter lesson 10 learn that both
must and should suffer equally, hence
n body OF men smarting under fam
cied wrongs have gathered TO assert
what they deem their rights and that
ut the cost of everything. A single
instance we give in support of our
view. Pennsylvania stuck, par value
so, was up during inflated times to
55, is now worth about IS, whilst the
dividen DIS are reduced from 10 per
cent to 6 per cent per annum. The
holders OF this stock are many who
are dep endent upon the dividends
for their living. Now there is 40
per cent shrinkage in income to the
holder, making it necessary to reduce
daily householdT expenses fro rata,
or should they desire or be obliged to
dispose OF it, thev can but realize lit
tie over one half of former value for
their property. Is there not suffer-
ing here and all this in the face of
the present reduction of wages and
forced and rigid economy i'm all di-
rectionS, and if the stockholder,
who as such is part of the company,
and by reason of the existence of
such company, employment is given
TO the laboring class, must suffer
why should not the employees suffer
equally?
We know tliat:a great many per
sons have no employment, that those
that are employed must work at re-
duced rates and all have the sympa-
thy of people generally, but this state
OF affairs is net owing to any improp-
er or unjust policy of corporations
or individuals doing business. An in
dlvidual would be termed a fool, and
people would lose their confidence
generally, who doing business when
the volume is greatly less, saks un-
certain and profits small, would con-
duct 1t with the same expense as
though the condition Of trade was
thereverse. He would be on the road
to bankruptcy and what applies TO
individuals in applicable to cOmbina-
tlons OF individuals doing business
as a company.
Again Ean has a perfect right to
strike, to quit work, if wages are not
what he thinks they should be, but
he has no right to prevent his neigh
Dor from going to work in his place
IL he SO chose to do at the prices
paid. This is contrary to the free
dom OF our county and its free laws.
He never has a right in this land to
make laws for his neighber., IL he
enjoyed such right we would have a
worse despOtism than that of the
monarchieS of Europe.
But this is what the strikers are
doing: there are plenty of men will
ing to step into their places but are
prevented from doing so by those
who refuse to work, hence traffic is
interrupted ON the great public high
way and business in all its ramlfca-
tions is cl0gged throughout the land.
These men have arraYed themselves
against the laws of society, they
seek to overthrow the laws of the
land. Riot, bloedshed, plunder and
the wholesale destruction of proper
ty have followed i'm their train. This
Will not be tolerated by the educated
masses and our civilization will not
allow such outbreaks. In what way
dO the strikers expect that this move
will benefit them 2 VIII enforced
ldlenesS and the subversion of the
laws of the country make money
flow into their pockets or give them
the necessaries Of life in support of
themselves and families Z? Will it
bring joy into the household, peace
and prosperity into the country ? 1t
VIII not. Its effect will be to further
depreSs business, to lessen demand
for labor and to throw out of employ
me mt the majority of those that par
ticipated in the crowning wrongs of