The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-06-10

The Labor stril1k
The strike among labeaihe ~ ii eoua-
Is IS becoming serious m lgh thefe are
now, i is estimated, q hpndred and
FIFTY thousand men ods Il eAployment, and
= are determined IS stand firm for an in
crease Of wages. 1.-THE strikes eontinne much
longer serious aisastef to the business inter-
ssts of the country IS absolutely certain.
The Apxoskyk has never been in favor of
sENkes. The laboring man is the loser in the
end Capitalists can close their mines and
factories and stiIllive in luxury. The lahorer
IS compelled after few months 10 go to work
At what he can get, or his family and himself
must stArve. BY striking every year he ex-
pends during his idleaess all his possible ear
nines, and mechanics in one section contrib
ute 10 maintain those of another whilst they
remain idle in an attempt to get higher wages.
The ADvocArE, reither, endorses the course
Of capitalists. A fair profit ON their invest
nsnts is all they should expect and demand.
SIX per cent. is the ruling rate of interest in
this country, and frst-class securities are ca
gerly grasped at from threeand half to FIVE
per cent. There is certain risk about man
ufacsuring-liability to loss from failure, or
closing up by over productions aud from
other causes. The capitalist who invests in
manufacturing enterprises should receive a
larger dividend than the ordinary rate, and
the laboring man and mechanic is willing. or
should be, 70 allow it But, while prices of
every necessary Of life are advancing and the
pnrehasing power of his wages is decreasing,
the difficulty of meeting ordinary expenses is
seriously felt. These embarrassments might
be endured, If the capitalist were only realiz7
ing fair and proper dividend from his IN
vessment, but they become intolerable, and
spur on to desperation, when the capitalist Is
getting from eighteen to thirty per cent divi-
dends, roll in wealth and luxury and turns
deaf ear to all appeals for more liberal wages
Under these circumstances a strike may not
be the best means of accomplishing q more
equitable distribution of profits between labor
and capital, but under such circumstances the
!. lahoring men must share the sympathy and
support of the people. Just such is the posi-
ton to-day at Pittsburg, Pa. the centre of
the iron interests of the country. Ihere the
operatives Of the seven, iron millS are on a
strike. The Inen have asked for increased
wages, and it has been denied them. The
capital stock Of The companies operating the
seven mills aggregates 50, 2sO, 600 and on this
last geas was declared SIP, 600 in dividends,
or nearly twenty-five per ceak. Since the
scale Of wages for the employees was arrang.
ed last year. the necessaries Of life have ad-
vaneed thirty-eight per cent, and dollar
then viii not purchase more than sixty cents
viii now.
In. Western Maryland all mining operations
have been suspended for some time past, and
mines are closed in Pennsylvania. These
suspensions viii raise the cost Of coal to al
most prohibiiory prices to people Of small
means, and suffering for the want Of fuel next
Writer may he lQokea feF,
The strikes don end here either. Al over
the country workshops, mills and factories
are idle, aud this suspension and closing up
Of industries uleans serioas consequences 10
bussness generally in the commercial centres,
which vii! soon be felt in the rural districts.
CAPITAL aud labor are 50 closely allied, that
shey should work together; bat capital i too
unbending and labor Is too exaetiug to har-
monte. Both are 10 blame to certain ex-
tent for the present troubles, but capital Is
more eensnrable than labor.
On this question, we add below the reply Of
one Of the prominent laboring men at Pitts
burg to a correspondent Of the New York
Herald, in response to the question a to
whether the strikers would hold out:
Yes said he, .'we have right upon our
side, and right, you know, makes might. We
base resolved ITO Sight i out on this line II il
takes All summer The mill owners eontiu-
uallv erv hard times and deceive the public by
staring that they have 5ut few orders on hand.
and that the cost Of manufacturing entirely
eats up the amount they receive. and that ae-
tually the money made does not pay for the
wear and tear Of their machinery. Now
know this is all bosa. Can any one tell me
how il IS that when orders are as scarce IS they
represent that they can afford TO 60 90 sueh an
enormous expense in fitting up their paiatial
mansions? | know Of one man who started a
few short years ago who Is now paying 49,,
600 for the elaborate painting done 20 his
house: another has Just paid ~, 800 for lit
lie frescoing, and yet these people, who can
not find garments IN America good enough
for their wives and daughters 70 wear and
send them TO Europe ia do their shopping,
are CRYING out against the poor w0rkmen, who,
with blinded eyes and burnt faces, are aged
and decrepid men al 80 years Of age Weare
perfectly satisfied i we can give our children
q few years schooling at the public schools,
and never complain az seeing our iron kings
daughters, clad in costly robes, whirling past
in gorgeous carriages, splashing the mud upon
their less fortunate neighbors. lam perfectly
aware OF the fact that we have never had the
chance Of making our side Of the troubles APP
pa-eut to the mass Of the people who are not
directly interested. In political times, when
our votes are needed, the bosses raise the hue
and cry Of the tariff, and We are then all right,
and promises and pledges are Showered on
us as thick as raindrops, only 10 be forgotten
and violated when the election is over and
the victory son. | ana q republican. and
have never voted any other ticket, and know
what am talking about. There Is no par
tictlar movement nov on baud that we are IN.
terested in. SO we can go to Hades for al
they care. Foreign labor can be had cheap
and A. a consequence We will be compelled
Tor AZ ittASf ~DtAt0 INT W NoAAls<A NJ ~
submit to their demands or else see paapers
placed in our stead ! am sorry 10 say that
We have allowed ourselves to be willing tools
in their hands. bat the day has come when W.
are determined to stand together and show
that we have rights which We dare 10 maintain
and feel that the public will sustain as a
far as possible. We are not revolutienists Of
communists, but hard working, law abiding
citizens, who pay our proper share OF tn.
taxes. and All we ask is that our labor shall
receive that remuneration it deserves.
Every government employee is paid IA
higher salary for his services than such ser
vices in the ordinary enployments Of iif'
would command The object of these higl
salaries is to allow men proper support aite