The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-09-09
STRIKE OF THE COTTON MEN IN NEW
ORLEANS.

rom the Democrat OF the 9th inst, !
which will fully explain the state of
Affairs in New Orleans between the
employers and employees in the cotton
business. So long as the cotton men
confined themselves TO tho simple
question of the amount of wages to be
received the community at large was
either with them or entirely neutral
in feeling, but when they go beyond
this and attempt 10 define and deter
mine who shall he employed and who
shall be discharged by the buyers and
merchants, they then cut themselves
Off from all sympathy and stand alono
in demanding that which under pres
ent circumstances can never be granted.
They have made great error in thoir
late position and demands:
Yesterdays developments were not,
perhaps, numerous, but they were
significant. Among the crowds Of tho
strikers who were hanging about every
available point where the opposition
were ut work there occurred manifesto
ton of bad temper. In these harbingers
of violence Wc detect Il confession, or
mt least an apprehension, OF defeat.
The act was unfortunate. 1t will not
commend tho association to the
respect and confidence Of the public,
nor will it have any effect upon their
opponents other than to strengthen them
in their purpose. The associations
have appealed to popular sentiment,
and not without success, through the
medium Of the plea that they are
banded together, not will. an unlawful
animus, but with view to self-protec-
ton. They claim that they are indus
trious, lawabiding citizens, seeking
only to obtain 4 peaceful livelihood
themselves against the unjust and
arbitrary exactions Of their employers.
AT the outset OF this especial inbroIglio
the representatives OF the association
publicly declared that their only object
was to resist the effort to force upon
them inadequate compensation, that
they did not intend to interfere with
individuals who might see tit to accep.
the wages offered by the factors, and
that they were simply exercising their
right as American citizens to work or
not work rs they preferred. To such n
platform there could be no possible
objection. On tho contrary, public
sympathy went out in full measure to
the association, and there was Il univer-
sal and sincere that the difficulty might
be adjusted on :, basis that would per-
NIT the laborers to earn liberal wages.
When the crisis camo and tho aSsOcia-
ton refusing 10 abate any Of their pre-
tensions, tho factors found it neces-
sary to assume active operations the
people still maintained an atti-
tude of neutrality. But as the struggle
and its development began
TO multiply, II very large and intel
ligent element veered to the conclusion
that the demands of the association
were not consistent with justice and
fair dealing. AS to the mere dispute
over the wages there was little feeling.
The community care next to nothing
about that. But when il became known
that ono of tho leading feature of tho
association's fight was Il denial OF the
right of the factors and their allies to
select their cmpioycs--:n ASSUMPTION
of tho privilege to dictate whom the
| factors should cmploy--puhlic scnti-
| mcnt underwent II serious change. 1t
was recognized that their claim was
Incompatible with enlightened in.
stitutionsi, and with the successful pro
| secution of Il large and growing com
merce. 1t was acknowledged on al
| hands that such 4 theory struck ut tn,
very cOro OF our common interests, anu
! that its final and emphatic rcpudiatio,
| was indispcnsably necessary.
There is, we sincerely believe, II,
sort OF hostility to the association n
concerns its2'f,'SOn7ci. On tho contrary
| the feeling toward them is cvcrywhcr.
friendly and indulscnt. But with re
gard to the principle which they ar,
striving to establish, and which is tn.
animating motive of their action, thor,
is nothing but dis,pprovai and ant
agonism. 1t is unfortunate for them
therefore, that III Wow OF such prevail
ing conditions, and in the face OF tn
popular conviction alluded to tn
association should make tho fatal mis-
take ofstiil further alternating sympnth h,
by acts of violence. 1t will avail bu
little to set up the defense that thcs
acts are discountCnanced by tho lead
crs. IL that he so, and il tho acts con
tinue Notwithstanding, then one o
two propositions must he admitted
Either the association do not descrv,
the good name which their avowet
representatives have claimed for them
or these representatives are incona
petent and unequal to the task tho,
| have assumed. In either event tn,
I,,, E,xy ~