New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-22
TWO STRI6E[A CONTR4SE

The strike OF iron workers nj Cleveland has
ended. The result has been anticipated fOr
some time past the strikers are defeated, and
the Cleveland rolling mill will resume opera
tions at its own terms. When the men bug gan
to resort to violence, there was reason % EXPECT
that they would fail, for it was only right tn
infer that if their claims mad been Justified b.
the condition of business and the state % the
markets, they would not have found IL neces
sary to disregard the laws or to employ threats
or force in order 10 get what they wanted. Tho
riots in Cleveland, the assaults upon persons
who were willing 10 work and upon some OF
the employers, were therefore strong evidence
that the strikers had not right on their side.
At the same time, these outrages materially iu-
tensifed the feeling against them, deprived
them of public sympathy, and rendered the en-
ployers more determined not to yield until the
organization by which the strike had been
directed was completely defeated. Some days
ago in a conference, the employers declared
that they would allow the mills to rot down be-
fore they would change the terms they had pro-
posed. or permit the leaders Of the strike To re-
turn to their employment No other decision
was to be expected, after the brutal outragcs to
which the strikers had resorted some weeks
ago. As a result the men failed, and those who
were conspicuous in connection with the strike
find themselves out OF employment They
suffer. not because they asked what they
thought was right, but because they either toll
Grated or were not able TO prevent crimes
against civil order, which deprived them of the
sympathy of all law abiding citizens
Just at this time contrast is presented by
Al, nf tho strila af gilE in tlia
city. The men held that they had such griev-
ances as TO Justify a refusal TO work. Bug, with
q wisdom which laborers elsewhere might well
initiate they consented TO refer the matters at
issue TO arbitrators chosen from disting uished
and disinterested citizens The committee APP
pointed listened to tho statements on both
sides, examined the matter care fully, and re-
ported that the most serious complaints against
the employers were mistaken and unfOunded !;
that n ounds Of complaint nevertheless did ex-
isl, but that the strikers themselves had failed to
place before the employers evidence to sustain
those complaints that the facts had been made
known by the committee TO the employers, and
that they had promptly agreed to remove the
causes of just complaint; and that they recon-
mended unanimously that the workers should
return to their occupation. The finding of the
committee was accepted, the strike ceased, and
the lust causes of complaint were removed. At
Cleveland the strikers spent eleven weeks in
idleness, and their losses amount TO many
thousand dollars, and the conduct of violent
men among them brought discredit upon the
cause of labor, and they failed in the end. In
the other case, all that the workers had reason
to desire was accomplished With scarcely any
loss, with honor instead Of disgrace, with good
feeling on both sides, and with ground for n
strong belief on the part Of the workers that the
employers are willing to listen to all Just COM
plants properly supported by evidence. Is it
not easy to see which course is the better for
tfleworkers aud the better for the community