Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-09-01
4 WHOLESOME LESSON.

Now that the strike in the coal fields Of
Maryland ard Western Virginia has vrtu-
ally closed, end we may naturally antici-
pate the resumption Of operations in the va
rious mining localities, a moments refiec-
ton upon the part of those who have been
prominent and influential in bringing about
a suspension of work will develop practi-
cal and wholesome lesson, namely; That
there is one thing that the workingman can
not do for himself, nor can any one do it for
him-the law of supply and demand cannot
be suspended for his benefit He is at lib
erty TO ask for his services whatever price
he may choose, but he cannot compel an
other to pay his price. He can offer his la
Dor in the market precisely as if he were
selling piece Of real tate, but If he puts
higher price on either than the condition
of the market will warrant, it will remain
unbought. His labor, as well as every other
commodity in life, is regulated by that inev-
liable law of supply and demand. Combi-
nations may be entered into to fix the price
Of this or that article, but if there be no de-
mand for it at the price stipulated no buyers
will be found. 1t is easy enough to lead a
horse to water, but quite another thing to
make him drink.
When the employees of a certain rolling
mill in st. Louis demanded that the compa-
ny manufacture their muck iron, instead of
going into the market and buying it, it was
a piece of impertinence that was very prop
erly met by discharging the men who made
the trouble. They might as well have die
tated to the stool holders where they should
purchase their groceries. When an en-
ploye undertakes to control the affairs of
his employer, in ninety-nine cases out of a
hundred he is biting off more than he can
chew, and the sooner he awakens TO an ap-
probation Of this fact, the sooner he will
have around him more substantial COM
forts.
II is hard to conceive or estimate the full
amount of want and loss which the strike
in these coal fields alone has entailed-
Every avenue leading from these mines has
been blocked, every business dependent
upon their successful operation has felt the
shock. Millions have been sacrificed upon
the unsteady altar of over-heated magma
ton, which a few moments of cool and un-
prejudiced reflection would have averted
and thrown into channel from which
peace and happiness would have flowed.
Again and again these strikes have been
famed into mastery activity by reckless
and trifing demagogues, always resulting,
after a season of damaging idlcness, with
great loss TO all intel ested
1t is sincerely to be hoped that this recent
strike will not be without beneficial lesson,
and that in the future all such unfortunate
conflicts can be avoided. There is still a
long season before us before the winter will
impede navigation. Active operations at
these mines will throw thousands of tons of
coal over the canal into market, and the rev.
enues thus derived will not only tend to en-
able the company to pay off its employees,
but business will brighten up in every di-
rection, and pleasant and remunerative
current of confidence will flow between en-
ployer and employee.