Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-30
STRIKERS AND THEIR MOTIVES.

The thoughtful reader is panied to find,
by accounts given in the public press, that
once more the laborer in many parts of the
country is striking" against the capitalist,
either for the purpose of securing higher
pay, or a reduction of the hours of labor, or
in resistance of attempts of employers TO
force a reduction of wages. That these
strikes are at times unwise and unreason-
able, and even unjust, is well known, and
they are attended with great expense and
often privation to the strikers. The fact
that they are persisted in in spite of imme
diate loss and The endurance OF suffering is
certain sign that they are not, on the whole,
the reckless, stupid proceedings capitalists
commonly represent them TO be. The fact is
that the worBmen know that their abil-
ity to strike has strong influence with
the employ er, and that if the immedi-
ate gain by strike be less than nothing,
the ultimate gain is important. They know
that " ages come out of the profits of labor,
and that were there no fear OF strikes
the share coming to labor would be less than
IL is where a possibility OF strikes exists.
They know also that if the strike costs them
something, it costs the employer something
also. They know that the machinery in a
mandatory depreciates moro when out of
work than when in, that those having con-
tracts have 10 endure losses in strikes, aid
that in many other ways it is against the
interest OF the employer 10 be subjected to
strike, and that therefore he will rather, as a
rule, pay something more liberal than he
would do were he under no liability to suffer
loss. The workman also claims that he has
the same right to join with his fellows in
union to secure better wages, as the en-
ployer has to join with his fellows to secure
higher profits. This latter kind of union he
is constantly Witnessing in the case of agree
ments among employers to sell only at given
prices, to pay only certain scale of
wages, or to "get up corner" on wheat
or pork. At the present time much
attention is attracted by the strike
of the workpeopIe at the Lawrence Pacific
Mills. These people are noted for their
intelligence, their love of knowledge, and
their. high moral character; they are
thrifty, have generally something saved up,
and-are neither oppressed by poverty nor
prey to discor tent. Their employers
rich corporation and paid rather above the
average wages; unfortunately, however, they
could neither recognize the rights nor respect
the feelings of the very superior workpeople
by whose aid their riches were won. With
out explanation, without any expression OF
regret, they had it announced that wages
would be reduced. A committee was APP
pointed respectfully to wait upon them, and
they refused an interview. They asserted
that the price of goods was low and profits
declining, but refused TO satisfy the commit
tee on this or any other point. The work
people struck, and public sentiment in the
neighborhood justifies them. But why did
the employers act with oppressive injustice?
1t is believed because they wanted to pro-
duce strike, among other reasons be-
cause they were about TO change
some of the machinery from cotton
to wool apparatus. But what a way
TO 90 about their end, when they had
reasonable and intelligent people to deal
with The haughtiness of a tyrant command
ing the submission of a slave. To accept
| reduction of twenty per cent. on their wages
| from a corporation that have received,
| during the last ten years, dividends of from
| fourteen TO twenty-five per cent, without a
word OF remonstrance or explanation, wss
| too much to expect. To submit to arrogance
as we'll as reduced pay the operatives did
| not find themselves equal to, and they struck.
| Since the strike both men and women have
conducted themselves with quiet propriety
that has gained the respect of all around
them. The lordly oppressors who thus act
are raising fearful questions and they arouse
| feelings that in intelligent and self-respect-
| ing American citizens are full OF social
] danger.