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

by saving that no strike was ever successful.
These papers are actuated by selfish motives.
They are In the monopoly ring. If the oper-
ators viii only stand firm, this strike will be
successful because they are backed in it by
the printers and the trades unions in the
country. Usually we believe, strikes are
to be discouraged, bu; in this particular in
stance a strike would be good thing for the
American people
GREAT FUTURE QUESTION.
Evansville journal.
The present disagreement between the OPP
orators and managers OF the Western Union
Telegraph Company is only indicative of
general move ON the part of the laboring
masses of the people for what they regard as
q more equitable adjustment of the financial
interests of the country. Prudent statesmen
and business men had better devote more of
their leisure time to a careful study of the
subject. People are everywhere inquiring
how il happens that some men in a few years
can make fortunes estimated at millions,
while the great mass are continually strug-
Cling for bare subsistence. 1t Is an old
question, but it will have to be considered in
5his country under different circumstances
from that under which it has been discussed
and acted upon in any other country, for in
the United States all the parties to the dis
cussion are alike potent in determining the
character of the laws which will have to be
enacted and enforced in its ultimate settle
lnent.
THE STRIKERS, THE COMPANY AND THE PUBLIC.
Philadelphia Press
Their demands appear to be excessive
though some of them certainly are reasOna-
Bile and give the companies an opportunity
to compromise the differences without any
derogation of their dignity or suspension of
their business. A good operator is a skilled
workman, the fruit of several years con-
slant practice His place cannot be filled in
a dow la faaIS flofh eki Ftriv
him advantage and he has resolved ap-
parently, to use it to get higher pay. The
far-reaching effect OF an obstinate strike both
iIpoT. the telegraph companies and the oper
ltors no one can estimate. The popularity
of such strike is that the parties to it will
not be the chief sufferers. The public are
little interested in the matters at issue in this
controversy, but are vitality concerned in the
methods proposed to test the strength Of the
Two parties. 1t cannot dispense with the
telegraph and will not submit patiently to
suspension of its use.
OUGHT TO BE LEGAL IMpossIBILfTY.
New York Times.
A general strike of telegraph operators or
of railroad workers ought to be q legal i'm
possibility, and is likely to be made SO if any
rash action should be taken now. The public
cannot afford to have this business at the
mercy of a contest over wages and hours of
labor between employers and employed, as ii
st were their exclusive affair Some means
must be provided for settling such contro-
VERSES with a proper regard to the just
claims Of both sides, and without disturbing
the business of those who are not directly
concerned in the controversies. In the alb
sence OF such means, duly provided, and of
legislation to prevent telegraph strikes, these
people should proceed with extreme caution
and remember that the public is likely to be
controlled by its self-interest, and not to
brook with patience any effort to paralyze
the facilities for commercial intercommuni-
cation as a means of coercion in private
quarrel.
STRIKE ON FALLING MARKET.
Chicago Tribune.
The demand for an increase of 40 per cent
in the wages of any class of salared men on
n falling market and wages largely appee-
cated in purchasing power, appears especial
ly exorbftant and III order to justify any
TART of their claim it will be necessary for
the telegraph operators to demonstrate that
they have already been greatly overWoFked
and badly underpaid in the past Their pres
ent movement, in other words, is in the ma
ture of corner" or revolution-a natu-
raj right of the oppressed, but one which can
only be successfully asserted when il is based
upon principles OF justice.
AN UNsoLvED PROBLEM
Lafayette Journal.
Corporations, having the power, are dis
JOseu w press against ldOors 1naG power
ought to be restrained in some way, and yet
just how to impose sncn restraint is a prob
lem that the wisest have thus far failed TO
solve. Strikes will be of no avail unless sue
cessful, and history does not record many
euch successes. The majority are failures,
and the condition of the laboring people at
the end is worse instead of better than at the
beginning.
THE OPERATORS SHOULD BE BACKED UP.
shslbyville Volunteer.
The CHECKERS" ought to be backed up in
their demand for more pay from the snngy
millionaires who are making such big for
tunes out OF the people with their watered
stock.