Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-10
THE SOCIALIsTIC PROGRAMME.

A sensational report comes from Chicago
to the effect that early in July next the
socialists will inaugurate general strike in
all departments of industry Whereabouts, and
compel employers to materially increase the
wages of employees. In that city the social
istic element has attained considerable
strengthen greater than in any city on the
continent. They run their own candidates
for the city council, for the legislature and
for higher offices, and have elected both al
dermen and members of the legislature
within the past two years. Last fall they
city, and it is estimated that there are fully
eight thousand men, fully organized, armed
and equipped in Chicago, who are sworn to
follow any programme Of violence and
spoliation marked out by their leaders. OPP
posed to them are perhaps seven hundred
city police, three thousand militia on foot,
regiment of cavalry about half filled, and
battery of artillery. While the authorities
have fewer in number of armed men, they
have undoubtedly the advantage in point of
arms and equipments, to say nothing of the
moral strength conferred by the support of
public sentiment. Nevertheless the social,
lists possess dangerous strength, and are
capable of inAicting infinite damage in a
worry short space of time if allowed to get
the start, even for few hours.
1t is the theory of socialism that every
man who has been sober, industrious and
frugal, and has accumulated little property
to maintain him in his old age, is an enemy
to society and to the working men. They
insist that such men ought to be compelled
to divide their property with those who have
been lazy, Incorporate or extravagant, and
as one of tho means to that end they
propose to demand large increase
Of the wages paid to laborirg men.
While we do not assert that labor receives all
| that it is entitled to in every branch of trade
we are convinced that wages are as high as
| the state of trade will warrant at the present
time. Few merchants or manufacturers
have made any money within the past five
years, for the price of all commodities Of
commerce has been constantly decreasing
while the cost of their production has MOI
kept pace. For instance, statistics show
that in 1870 the cost of producing ton o.
railroad iron, which sold at 1868, was abou
$47; to-day the cost for the same iron
which sells at about 1923, is about $21.75
The recompense of labor has not decreased
in the proportion that the profits of manu-
featuring have decreased, and the same rati,
will hold good in all lines of trade and man
ufactures.
But in rati onal sense, what good Cal
come from strikes? In ninety nine case
out of hundred the workman is the loser b
a strike. Take, for an example, the case o
the coal miners of Newcastle, in England
who have been on a strike for the past tire
months. The only difference between then
and their employers was the matter of fiv
cents day. Yet they have stood out TO
ninety days, losing their entire wages TO
that time, for matter of $3.50. They viii
have to work for three years, even ct the in
creased pay-if they get ito make up tn
losses they have sustained. If man who il
getting two dollars day strikes for two AM
a quarter, and remains idle for week il
consequence, he loses twelve dollars. 1t vii
therefore require eight weeks to make VI
the loss, even if he succeeds in enforcing hi
demands, but in nine cases out of ten h
fails to gain the advance, in which case tn
loss becomes permanent little math
ematical calculation ought to coz
vince every reasonable man of the folly Q
strikes. It will not convince the socialists
who are making tools of the workingmer
for they do not work and do not desire t.
What they seek is to plumber the frugal G
their earnings, and if they fail in that, I
, destroy whatever they can. We trust, there
fore, that in the interest of the better elias
of workingmen, the attempt of the Chicag
commune to create disturbance will be fru!
, trated in the outset. If they attempt to S,
the law at defiance, the authorities shoul
meet force with force, and most effectuall
, squelch the lawless horde who seek to bs
law unto themselves.
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st. Paul Illustrated.