New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-25
PLAIN W0EDS on 4 PLAIN SUBJECT

PLIIN UOHDS OH 4 TLIIN oCIJFt L.
Warning las been given that there is another
great strike impending IN Plttsburg among the
Amalgamated Iron-W orkers. They propose to
stop work the first week in June. What will
they gain jy it 7 Has any workman III the iron
mills of Pitshurg ever been the gamer hy
dollar for going into u striker 1t is true that
they have sometimes succeeded in causing seri-
Gus loss to the millOwnerS and have compelled
a rise in their wages. But the Increase has al
ways been small and gained after So protracted
a strike that it would require years for the
tliling addition of weekly pay to make up for
the loss of the whole wages while the strike
lasted. 1t never has been so made up. Before
the loss was repaired some new change in the
rates has, as a rule, destroyed the advantage
gained. These are facts, and the striker, know
1t. Strikes, too, no matter how carefully
managed OF how long forcscen, have most fire.
qucnty proved complete failures. In that case,
the workman goes back To the same rates of
time and pay against which no rcbe'lcd, hay
lug suffered the loss not only of bis wages dur
ing the whole time Of idlencss but the loss of
she funds of the Union on which he and his
family have subsistcd. 1t must be remen-
bered, too, that these funds are no outside con-
tribulon, but his own savings from day to
day and year To year. The same proportion of his
wages invested in Il home for himself or land or
any paving stock. even in a savings bank, would
he property in bulk, now paying percentage
of money, of security and of sclf-reSprct. He
would in small degree have joined the body
of capitalists and feel his feet firmly under him.
I hat is the policy of the Scotch and German
wOrkngmcn, and there are no more thrifty,
successful peoples in the world. The striker,
on the contrary, lays lis money by in idlcness
To fight capital with it, instead of to make him
"A capitalist he puts the principal by for IA rainy
day where it can bear no interest and immedi-
ately makes the day a rainy one and uses it up.
We are not speaking in the interest of the mas
tiers now but the men. Is this wise policy
Again: The motive underlying almost all
the trades-unions and strikes in this country is
to compel an even rate of wages to he paid by
the employer to the workman, regardless of his
skill or industry. a strike among tho brick
layers in Chicago, which has been going OH for
two months and has already cost them an
enormous loss is based on this requirement.
The ignorant, lazy workman is to be paid pre-
ciscly a. much rs the skilled, industrious one.
This is the demand made 10y the French Social
lists and Collectivists in thcirearler congresses,
but the absuIdity Cf it they granted long ago.
II is a mistake which immigrants into tins
country are apt to make until they are taught
better by hard experience. They are more apt
to make it If they come from country where,
because of oppression, religion, or their own idle
ness, they have been crushed ana kept under
foot. They land on our shores and bewildered
by the political freedom, the chances and the
prosperity about them. Immediately take it for
granted that they have a right to the prosperity
IA well as to the freedom and chances They
will not only vote, but they will claim equal
wages with those who have skill and industry.
Nowhere is this seen strongly a. in the uni
versal field of domestic service. The French
or scandinavian household servants expect
their wages to he graded as at home, by their
ability and experience; thr Irish Catholic, fresh
from the rural districts, demands the same pay
as a skilled cook or housc keeper. The immcdi-
ate result Is that premium is offered for the
first class of servants in every city, and the
others arc rapidly falling into lover grades of
service. The matter is IA small one beside the
large interests involved in the strikes, but il is
one with which every reader of THE TRIBUNE
is familiar and it exactly illustrates our mean
ing
a mans position in the community will be de-
termined, III the long .un. by his ability, kDowl-
edge, industry and capital Lacking these he
cannot force an equal place for himself with
those who have them, 10y any rules of any soci-
ETY. he may join or by strikes. There are men
in Pittsburs and the other great iron centres to-
day who are mill-owners and capitalists who |
began their lives as pudders and feeders. |
They gained their successes by individual skil |
and force of character, not BY heading strikes |
The foreigner be he Irish Gait Ole or Protest
ant German, is entitled to such wages and such !
respect and such place among us as his work |
and individual merit demand. That is all which |
native Americans grant to each other He has a |
right TO no more.