Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-15
A PLEA FOR THE STRIKING WORK.
MEN

Whenever the labor OF the country, from
however well founded basis, demands an
increase of wages, or resists an attempted de-
crease, the trade organs all join in efforts TO
thow that the workipgmen are unjust, I'M
reasonable, or mistaken IN their efforts. No
reader of this class of journals can have
failed to notice their unanimity on this point,
yet that the workingmen are often just, rea-
sonable and correct in their demands, spite
of the allegations of this class of journals, is
proved by their occasional success, a success
followed by evil results to none, merely COM
polling the capitalist to pay over to the la
borer more equitable proportion than be-
fore of The profits coming from the labor he
has done. The New York Chronicle is one of
the fairest and most 10 be relied on journals
OF this class we know, but it cannot help
falling in with this injustice to labor. Its
article on Labor Strikes" in its issue of
July Sth, is proof of it. Its conclusion is
that ''the present is plainly no time for rails
ing wages" but its arguments in support of
that proposition are singularly fu-
tile. 1t has the fairness to ac-
knowledge that 1.-THE strikes ars the
Datural product of the much higher prices
of the necessities of life" 1t then produces
arguments that those prices are probably not
permanent. The outlook for crops is mar
velously promising; though corn is uncertain
the wheat crops seem assured; the prices of
all meats ought to be similarly affected with
pork, which will be cheap if corn and other
crops are plentiful. Are these probabilities
sound reasons why men who have had for
months to pay thirty-three and third per
cent. OF their earnings for food above what
they had TO pay when the present scale of
wages was fixed should be denied an ad-
vance? When merchants contemplate rails
ing the prices of the commodities they deal
in, do they go upon absolute and existing
facts or upon future possibilities and proba-
bilities? Why are workingnen thus lectured
With unsubstantial words, as il they were of
TOO limited comprehension to appreciate COM
mon sense, or too far down in the social
scale to make it worth while being at the
trouble TO use sound arguments with them?
To the looker-on having no personal interest
in the struggle this paltering with claims
acknowledged to be made on substantial
grounds is disgusting, and will not ultimately
benefit the cause of the capitalist. We say
palteriDg, because in the very issue in which
these probabilities are urged as if they were
substantial reasons, other and quite opposite
probabilities appear. The disturbance in
Egypt has raised insurance on merchandise
passing through the Suez canal, and has
stopped the shipments of Egyptian cotton.
This makes Indian and Egyptian cotton, and
consequently American cotton, dearer; and
1t advances the price of wheat, as all the vast
Indian supply is in danger of being cut off,
and that raises the price of American bread
stufs. Prices sustained in this way leave
our Eorkmen still saddled with high prices,
while our capitalists reap increased profits.
Higher wages, the Chronicle thinks. might be
very harmful in all business" for "dearer
labor means increased cost OF production"
and "there is good resson 10 believe"-hypo-
thesis sgain-"that the advance would cur
tail consumption" This kind of argument
applies to the capitalist as strongly as 10 the
workman. If he make his profits too high