The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-06-08
THE LABOR TROUBLES.

st. Louis Globe Democrat: There Il
every prospect that the present differ
ences between employers and employees
will result in what may be called gen
eral strike, and there are indications
that the epidemic will spread more
or less through the other industries.
Efforts have been made to effect com
promises, but so far they have proved
unsuccessful. The reasons for this lack
OF success are not far 70 seek. The cost
OF living has become painfully high,
and the WorkiDgmen see in il what ap-
pears t0 them a justifiable cause for
their action. On the other hand, en-
ployers find themselves confronted with
declining market, many Of them have
large stocks of goods on hand, and all
see losses confronting them in conced.
ing wha. is demanded. An abundant
harvest this year promises relief from
the strained situation in lowering the
price Of provisions and in other ways,
bat its effects are too far removed 10 in.
huence the immediate present.
Incomes are generally out of propnr-
ton with necessary expenditures. The
returns from capital have grown small
or and the margin that the workingmen
are enabled TO save from their earnings
correspondingly So. The wise course thai
is indicated for all parties 10 pursue is
TO econOmize and bear the situation
a.
gence would dictate this. The lessen
ing of the demand for manufactured
goods points Ia the discharge of many
operatives even If no strikes occur.
That this would entail Inconvenience,
perhaps suffering, is altogether probable /;
but IL So, il is not Ia be avoided in any
case. 1t would lead 10 modified redis
lribuIiOn OF labOr-a transition process
that il always severe upon those affected,
but one that involves infinitely less suffer
ing than will ensuc from a widespread
system of strikes.
The effect OF the strikes will be 10
limit production, stiffen prices of goods
and permit the demand to catch up with
the supply; but IL can he seen that the
cost of all this will mainly fall upon
the workingmen. The capitalist will
lose the interest on his money, and un-
dergo other Inconvenience, but the effect
nFon the value of the goods he holds
will probably more than compensate
him for his loss. In this light the ac-
nf hn -
themselves the main loss sustained.
The reserve funds of the labor associa-
tions will be materially reduced, if not
generally wiped out, the time that
would otherwise be occupied will be
thrown AMY, aud much sacrificed
that can never he rSgained. The
world will be that much the poor
er. II seems to be the fate of the
labor organizations TO choose the worst
occasions 10 attempt To better them
selves in. Previous to 1874 they had
gained considerable unity, but in the
system of strikes instituted during hard
times they bccame demoralized. Both
they and capital we're struggling against
the inevitable. In very much mOdI-
fled sense. IL appears jas IL this expert
ence Wa@ about Ia be repeated.
There are inequalities in the labor
market, probably, that furnish just cause
for grievance. These might be rem,-
died if they were not complicated in
the general demand for increased pry.
So far, happily, there are no indications
of that bitterness of feeling that existed
some years ago, and there is reason To
believe that a clear knowledge OF the
facts of the situation would lead the
workingmcn To take a different course
from that which they have marked out
for themselves. Many are carried along
by their companions against their better
and to swell the movement
are the exhortations of mischiefbreed-
ers, who make it II business To live off
their alleged championship for labor In
the present instance they will succeed
in causing them TO luse millions upon
millions of dollars that they otherw Sc
might have earned.