The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-06-06
THE DALLAS HERALD, TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 6, 1884,
CAUSES OF THE PRESENT STRIKE.

CAUSES OF THE PRESENT STRIKE.
There is observed to-day in the United
States state of affairs among the laborers
never perhaps witnessed before and wholly
inexplicable under natural conditions in a
country professedly so progressive and IA
vorable to working.men, where it is con-
tended that employment is more easily OBJ
tanned and better wages received than any
where else in the world. From variou:
estimates and reports some $1,000 or SO,OW
men in various portions ofthe Union art
engaged in a bitter and prolonged strike.
1t is not to be entertained as a rational
proposition that the free laborers of Ameri'
ca do not know their own interests or thai
they are likely to lie idle anu pinch them
selves and families with hunger and want
for mere paltry increase of wages pei
week or out of prejudice to their EN-
ployes, They must be actuated by
a principle, and they must SEE
that injustice is being done them when
they engage in so widespread strike
And indeed, such is the case in the present
instance. The strikers, in few words, are
simply demanding that the wages OF labor
shall be proportional to the profits OF cap
ital. Such is true of the strikers in Illinois,
Michigan, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts,
whose numbers reach the large figures be-
fore mentioned-an army indeed OF Drawn
and muscle, back of which is another
still larger army of women ana
children all of whom must suffer in the
contest for principle of justice and politi-
cal economy seemingly so plain. But the
monopolists and manufacturers, many oil
whom, Us in the case of the BEssEMER steel
industry, referred to by us the other day,
are being paid dividends of rs per cent, re-
fuse to accommodate the wages OF the la
borers to their own enormous profits, and
insisting upon their inability to raise wages
or go on under the present tariffs, literally
howl for more protection. When a few
men set down in their luxurious offices and
by the direct assistance of the federal gov
eminent are enabled to reap Il profit OF q
to IS per cent. clear of all expenses, it is by
no means strange that the poor and half
fed laborers with face and hands blackeneC
by toll, should demand more equable di
vision of the spoils-should demand that h,
be paid in proportion as other labor
ers in other departments of business
are paid. 1t is thus that the pam
pered monopolists sustained by govern
ment aid, and grown insolent and opulent
turn deaf ear to rational and just requests
and become the immediate, direct and in
excusable cause of the great and disastrous
strikes throughout the land from time tC
time. Instead Of government listening t.
their clamors for protection, and maintain
ing their great gains at the expcns,
OF the masses, 1t should rather com
pei more just and faire
division of profits. In dry goods and gro
cerics, for instance, the proprietor is con
tent with 10 or 20 per cent. profit, but hi
statesmen receive anywhere from Sl2 to 81
per week. The manufacturer on the othe
hand, with his so and GO per cent. Of profits
pays his hard worked and begrimed work
men from $i.75 to Sl2 per week only. Abou
20 per cent. of this is said to be required 70
food for factory families, and which foo,
has increased some 10 per cent
in cost, since March, 1881, though
wages and the proprietors return
remain the same, generally, the only
changes being some deductions in thu
working'men's wages. Seeing this fact tn,
laborer rightfully demands that such con
ditions cease. Such a state of affairs i
cruel in the extreme, and LABOR should moi
only protest against the fact, with una
bated vigor, but at once and eyerywhcr,
unite with those who are engaged in pres
ent opposition to the infamous tariffs
which, as we have said, are the prime ant
immediate causes of the gross impo
sition upon the poor aud thu
consequent strikes and suileriugs. So fal
as daily support and the possibility of wear
ing out the capitalist by striking, is cor
cerned, the poor are at every disadvantage
indeed cannot hope so to do, except in few
detached instances, The knife, which woulC
truly remedy and eradicate must be ap
piled to the real seat, the root of the dis
ease. 1t is only by dropping high protec
tive duties, by truly and impartially re
framing our statutes and lcglslating n
reason and good craftsmanship dictate il
the interests of the many rather than til,
few, that the proper correction of the pres
ent troublous and disastrous evils can b,
accomplished.
NEWN DIV NnENI