The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-08
Tuesday. January 8. 1873.
Labor Strikes Of 1877.


like character.
IF the times had mended so as to afford
labor adequate relief, instead of becoming
worse, the subject would by this time have
passed generally out of public view, and
would have become a problem for those
only who are especially intended, or those
whose duty as statesmen and legislators
compels them to investigate the origin OF
such difficulties, the probabilities OF their
repetition, and the proper means OF pre-
vention.
Bat the times have not grown any better
and have afforded as yet no particular
amelioration Of the great underlying
troubles, The mere adjustment of the
scale of wages between corporations and
employees which temporarily tided all par
ties over the struggle has in no essential
degree removed or cured the primary
causes which eliminated in the outbreak
of labor against capital. The disturbance
of the body polite, like as is sometimes
the case with physical ailmeats, is not 80
much the result of any one predominating
cause as of several different causes which
finally overcome the vital forces and
utterly Frustrated the patient. No one
remedy can be found which is an absolute
specific, and it often requires length of
time and a combination of remedies to
OBJECT cure. Capitalists Of course invoke
the harnic remadu
But men of intelligence who feel disposed
to look calmly and fairly at both sides will
hardly subscribe to harsh and caustic
measures as the rightful method Of avoid
ing or remedying the ills complained of.
However stern and uneompromising the
letter of the law may be, or may be made,
and however effectually it may be enforced
by the strong hand of state or national
power it does not therefore follow that
such a course would be wisest, or pro-
ductive of permanent good. There is
much to be said on both sides; if the laws
are wrong, repeal them and enact better;
if the equities are with labor as we'll as
with capital, then let one have the
benefit as well as the other.
The subject is one which has attracted
serious attention in many quarters. and
must continue to do so as long as repeti-
ton of past scenes is liable to occur, and
80 long as any causes whatever continue
to excite and produce antagonism and en-
gender ill-will between the great body OF
employers and employees. The governor
annual message to the legislature of that
state at some length, and renews the sug-
gestion made by him in his annual message
OF 1875 for the creation OF tribunal Of
arbitration, composed of three or more
judges OF the state courts, and as many
operators, and an equal number of the
representatives Of the workingmen, tc
settle all controversies between laborer
and their employers. The proposal i
one which ought to receive from the leg
islature serious attention.
Of the causes, results, and lessons o
the strike he says:
The strike resulted in violence, murder
aud arson caused the death of over fift
civilians and five soldiers, an,
the wOunding and manning of hundre
or more, and the destruction of millions O
dollars worth of property. While
Is true that the workingmeD, who bega
it, contemplated no such terrible results
IL cannot be denied that the manner il
which they proceeded to enforce thei
demands, by stopping inland commerc
and seIzlng the property of corporation
and individuals and driving citizens from
their usual occupations, in defiance of laws
made the breach through which the law
less elements OF society poured to plunde
and destroy. By thus iuconsideratel
inviting the cooperation of the crlmina
classes, labor did itself great injury, ant
il will be long before it can remove tn
suspicion and distrust with which tn
people will view its strikes and organiza
tlons. Into the merits OF tn
contest it is not necessary to go; whateve
be tie rights Of labor, the duty of tn
executive is imperative.
Passing from these secondary matters I
the broader and deeper lessons of tn
strike, while there is much to cause sole
tude, there is much, also, to awaken cor
hdence IN the final solution of the problem
lille capital held labor in ignorance an
bondage, strikes were rare. Their FRI
qlent occurance is proof that labor
growing more and more to an equality
strength and Importance to capital Int
hgence has spread itself among the labo
ing classes; they have learned to read an
write, and to interchange their views, ar
formed associations, according to the
new lights, for their protection and a,
vancement. And if in this, as in mar
other cases, a little learning is a DANCE
Gus thing, il is yet better than no learnir
at al and is the progressive step to high
Intelligence, On the other hand, und
the influence Of civilization wealth BEGAN
more and more diffused, and corporatio
grew up to collect the largo and smi
amounts of unemployed capital, to bui
the gigantic works and conduct the gre
industries required by modern societ
these two results are the inevitable co
sequences OF increased intelligence al
civilization. These great corporation
from the character of the enterprises, a
OF necessity, IN most cases, monopoli,
As such the people have a right to demal
that while the profits NAV accrue
private individuals, their manageme
shall rise above merely selfish aims. al
consult also the public utility and welfa,
1t has come to pass that 10 the conf
between capital aud labor the former
almost wholly represented by corporate
and the latter by various organizations.
The attitude OF the people towar
these two forces during the strike has
deep significance. In the general SYM