, 1880-01-18
TIE LESSON OF THE P0RK-PACKERs'
STRIKE.

The recent strike Of the workmen at the
pork-packing houses in this city was a loss
of about months employmentto an average
Of 1000 men at average wages Of 50 to each
man. The actual sum OF the wages which
the strikers refused to earn was about $780,
600. In the meantime, their expenditures
were the same as if they had been at work.
The greater number Of the strikers have not
been re6mployed, their places having been
filed BY wiser men,-and the business itself
has been so damaged by their folly as not to
furnish enough labor for as many hands as
before the abandonment Of work. a month
of the active killing season has passed away
unimproved, and some thousands. Of these
men will have no further work at pork-pack-
ing this season. That much money-a third
Of million dollars-which they refused to
earn has been lost to them and to their
families. That much cash for bread and
meat has been voluntarily rejected from their
means of living, and the men and their
families are that much poorer than they would
have been had there been no assault made on
the business Of their employers.
A few psrsons claiming to be particular
experts, and who drew large wages, were
ouly kept from resuming work by being
bribed by the same compensation that they
would have got if they had worked. The
money used for this i11egitimate purpose
was drawn from the benevolent funds be-
longing to the "Union, funds previously
contributed by the low-priced workmen from
their earnings for far different purposes.
Tie employing packers suffered serious
loss because OF the interruption Of business,
the necessity Of operating at other places, and
the general suspension Of killing and pack
ing, and loss Of SO many weeks Of the best
part Of the season. But the worst loss, as
in all such cases, and that hardest to be
borne, fell upon the foolish workmen who
are dependent on their daily earnings for
their daily bread. ; :
. This strike was utterly unprovoked and
indefensible. The men had demanded an
increase Of wages shortly before, and it was
granted them. They were enjoying full EN-
p1oyment at full wages when the demon Of
Communistic demagogism appeared in the
*sUnion," instigating the men to demand
that employers should surrender the control
Of their business to the irresponsible leaders
of an oath-bound secret society. The de-
mand was that no man should be employed
except those whose names should be fur
nished by the leaders Of the Union"; that
no man should be discharged except for
cause, and Of this cause the leaders Of the
"Union" should be the exclusive Judges.
These impndent demands we're refused, and
the reckless demagogism cost the unforta1-
nate, fooled members Of the strike some
$780, 900 hard cash,-wages lost in what
should have been the the busiest part Of the
season,-and also resulted in checking out
the last dollar of the benevolent fund in their
treasury, which was sunk in prolonging this
miserable civil war.
This strike furnishes IN additional instance
OF the abuse Of the system Of Trades Unions.
The original purpose Of such Unions was Of
benevolent character. It was to help the
needy members, succor the sick and disabled,
bury dead brothers, and aid aud assist the
families of the deceased or disabled, and
generally to provide support for such of the
members as could get 11o work, or were dis
abled for labor. This proper and praise
worthy purpose has been perverted and
abused, and is no longer the chief object of
the rulers Of Trades-Unions. The bulk Of
the moneys Of such organizations Is nova
days appropriated to sustaining strikes ~;
that is, in supporting In fdleness members Of
the Union who voluntarily abandon work,
and refuse to labor at the best wages they
can get Nine strikes out of ten prove utter
failures, sometimes resulting in the disrup-
ton Of the Union ordering them, and in
all cases prove disastrous, financially, to
those engaged in them. The great and legiti-
mate beneficial purpose of Trades-Unions is
sacrificed in abortive efforts to coerce e1n-
ployers, against the laws of trade, and to Ell
courage laborers to believe that it can ever be
more profitable to be idle and earn no wages
than to be employed at the best rates the
market affords. .:
Trades Union strikes are subject to law
so general and so inevitable that it cannot be
escaped. Strikes on a rising market and In
creasing demand for labor for higher wages
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