The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-20

powerful In the possession OF vast wealth,
but if they presume too far, the voters of
America will strip them of every vestige of
their power, and teach them a lesson that
will never be forgotten. And this is true as
to all corporations. The rising power of the
future is that of opposition to monopoly,
and monopolies will be penny wise and
pound foolish if they do not heed the fact
And now, looking over the whole field,
candor compels admonition to all concerned.
While the rights of the striking telegraphers
are conceded, there is but narrow space for
them between right and wrong. The public
will submit to some little Inconvenience
without grumbling but there is limit to
patience. The sudden stoppage of tele-
graphic communication is in the nature of
public calamity. The aggregate loss to
business resulting therefrom will necessarily
be very large. This will be met uncomplain-
ingly for time, but it will not be long until
the spirit of remonstrance will be
aroused, and whichever party is deemed
more lpable will be held responsible anu
will speedily fall into public disfavor. 1t is
but polite, therefore, that the strikers COM
nit no excuses and do not violate the rights
of others in endeayoring to maintain their
own. Neither the companies nor men
should forget what they owe to the people
who are in no wise personally interested in
their differences. AS was the case in 1877,
business OF all kinds will be more or less
interfered with so long as the
strike is maintained. Telegraph
companies have no right to
interrupt traffic by a suspension of tele-
graphic communication The monetary
loss would be. too great They must be held
to the performance of their functions in the
great body of business. But we cannot COM
pei them to perform impossibilities If we
are to insist upon their continuing tele-
graphic facilities we must in the same meas
are insist that men shall not combine to
render impossible these public necessities
If the companies fail by their own fault, let
have grievances, let them be settled by
boards of arbitration. The half-dozen
companies that control the business in the
United States must not be allowed to cripple
the affairs of so OOoo 900 people Nor should
the few thousand telegraph operatives pre-
sumo to do it, Whichever is to blame in
this matter will have tn 90 down That il
the long and short of it. Plainly our stat
utes must take cognizance of such issues
The reciprocal rights and and duties of cor
porations and employees should be plainly
defined, and in eventof issues like the pres
ent one, commissions or boards of arbitra-
ton should be provided, before which the
matter could be placed, while
the business of the nation goes on unim.
peded. To this must it come, and the sooner
the better. SIN the absence of legal board
of arbitration the men have gone out on
strike. If so be that their places can be filled,
it will never do to defy public opinion by
attempting violence to prevent 1t. The
same right that allows man to refuse a GER
tain compensation for his labor allows another
man to accept it. Every citizen Of The United
States must be allowed to sell his labor for
all he can get for it, and to accept for it what
ever he pleases Violent interference Of any
kind wond be fatal to the prospects of the
strikers, just as it was in the case OF the rail