Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-22
The Labor Troubles in the North
and West.

8A4 HC1A
The Northern and Western sections
Of the country are Just now experiencing
their periodical return Of the labor
troubles which every year or so attiict
those regions. A strike at Omaha re-
Gently became so serious as to make it
necessary that United States troops should
be called out to prevent disorder. while
at various points in Illinois, Kansas,
Maryland, Pennsylvania and Massachu-
sets strikes have been inaugurated which
bid fair to lnfiict. before they enn, severe
losses upon both employers and en-
ployed-
The chief grounds for these various
strikes are, of course. either dlssatisfac-
ton at the lowDess of present or
at the prospect of reduced wages.
The policy of protection has enabled
those given monopolies of the protected
articles to control the markets and accu-
mulate wealth so rapidly that, naturally
enough, the laborer feels dissatisfied at
the great disproportion Of his share OF
the profits. and desires more. This may
be a natural desire, but after all is the
effort to enforce by strike what is thus
looked upon as a right productive of
goodf
1t nav be accepted, as a general rule,
that strikes are improbable. In three
cases out Of five they fail. and for very
plain reason. The capitalist who has Sc
cured wealth for himself can, without
any great personal Inconvenience, stand
the loss occasioned thereby. True, ne
would greatly prefer that his business
should not be interrupted, or that the
steady stream of wealth which flows III
upon him should not be damned, yet,
if disturbances come, he is fortified,
and can remain complacent in the con-
seriousness that he can still provide not
only comforts but also luxuries for his
family. With the employe, however, it
is, as a general rule, very different. He
is, in the main, dependent upon daily
labor for daily Bread and seven if he is
supported by outside contributions from
friends, his supply of food is limited,
while he has to pinch himself in every
way to maintain the actual existence of
himself and family, and finally is gener-
ally forced to succumb to the pressure.
Nor is this all. In many cases, even if
strikes are successful, and the strikers
carry their point eventually, it is very
doubtful if in the end they are not losers.
They have succeeded in establishing a
principle, it is true, but at tremendous
cost, for the time and wages lost while
engaged in the strike frequently involves
an amount which it will take weeks and
perhaps months to make up, and even then
there is no guarantee that the arrangement
brought about by means of the strike
will be permanent. The very moment
that the capitalist finds he cannot de
rive profit from abiding by the
strikers terms, he will 'shut
down, and the result is not only gen.
eral throwing out of employment, but a
rise in prices which sensibly affects all
classes of the country.
To our mind then, it is the part Of
wisdom not to strike at all, and certainly
never to do so until every possible effort
has been made to effect a compromise Of
the differences between employer and
employed. This can, IN nearly all cases,
be brought about if proper steps are
taken. The former class will always
listen to reason, especially if their inter
ests are involved, while the latter, if
they are convinced that business and the
state of trade will not admit OF higher
wages, will naturally not insist upon what
are evidently unreasonable demands
Both capital and labor have rights which
must be respected, and if differences be
tween them can be settled by fair arbi-
tration rather than force it will always
be better for those concerned. Thought
full men among the great lsboring classes
will, we doubt not, fully agree that these
conclusions are just, and that the sug
gestions offered are wise.