Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-23
The western Strikes.

Our reports from the West are to the
effect that the strikes which have been so
long in progress in that section are about
to collapse. Great restitution prevails
among the workmen, who are represent
ed as being anxious to return to work at
any sacrifice, and once more help to
support their suffering families. They
do not do so at once simply because if
they do before all the strikers are ready
to resume they will be branded with the
stigma, "black sheep" 1t is estimated
that this state of affairs cannot last much
longer, and indeed it is reported that
President Jarrett, of the Amalgamated
Workmen's Association, in conversation
with some of the members, advised them
to return to work, "as they were
already whipped and it was no use to
hold out any longer"
This is exactly such a termination to
these labor difficulties as we anticipated
from the very first. In fact they could
not have ended otherwise. Under the
artificial stimulus of a protective tariff,
manufactures had been overproduced,
and the country was Overstocked with
surplus of goods and wares for which
there was no ready sale. Under these
circumstances protected manufacturers
could only get even, and partially save
themselves from loss-or, rather, could
only partially realize their anticipa.
tons of enormous profts-by cut
ting down wages This they did,
expecting strike for which they were
rather anxious than otherwise. They
knew that a strike meant a stoppage
of production, and consequent keep
ing up of prices, and so, while
they could dispose at high figures
of their accumulated stock, they
could also proftably expend a por-
ton of their protected profits in repair
ing their mills, and getting ready for
''scooping in" another fortune this win
ter, after the strikers had been driven by
want and starvation into accepting their
terms.
These calculations of the protected
barons have been fully realized. They
can well afford now to resume their
labors, for their accumulations have been
disposed of at protected prices, they
have lived quietly and comfortably
while their workmen have suffered, and
their establishments have been put into
thorough repair. They have saved hun
dreds of thousands of dollars which, but
for the strike, would have been paid out
in wages, and the strikers, reduced to
the verge of starvation, are ready to
throw up the sponge and resume work at
any price.
The workingmen of the country ought
to learn a valuable lesson from these
strikes and their result AS we Lave
seen, the overprOduction which led to
them was entirely the effects of protec-
ton, and they have realized most bit
terly that protection does not protect
their wages, nor does any one derive
any actual benefit therefrom, except the
barons who, even when business is &C
tive and orders brisk, only pay them
pittance of the profits they receive. Yet
these very men have all along, at the in
stigation of their employers, voted to
continue the protective policy under the
belief that it was established for their
peculiar and exclusive benefit. The ap-
peals of their suffering families ought
to have opened their eyes to the
truth, but it is doubtful if any
such effect will be produced.
As soon as they begin making wages
again they will forget to deduct
what they have lost during their months
of idleness from what they may make
during the period of employment. If
they would do this, they would readily
see that, on an average, they have Jared
nothing like so well as have their pau
per" brethren of Europe, but they won't.
On the contrary this fab Shey will, in ali
probability, again listen to the seductive
arguments of their protected employers;
again vote for protection again be lulled
into another dream of happiness and
wealth, the result of artifcially enhanced
wages, and so remain the dupes of the
monopolists until overproduction again
makes business dull, again cuts down
wages, and another strike, causing an
other era of want and destitution, follows.