The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-03-11
STRIKES.

STRIKES.
The remark Is constantly made that
strikes are but incidental outbursts Of
the natural war between labor and CAPT |
tai. The best advised political econo-
mlsts believe in no such theory. There |
can not be conflict between two
agencies that in their joint action move
tie world. There may be Earring in
forests between employer and employe,
but further the HERALD can see no CON
aict. The present complication is be-
tween the railway companies and tho
men in their employ, whether skilled
artizans, professional railroad men or
section hands. II is not on the question
of raising their wages from an Insult
Iicent amount, but resistance Of re-
duotisn. At various intervals these
strikes have occurred since tho middle
Of tho fifteenth century, when in Eug-
land the riots took place after the great
plague In London.
rhe present strikes in Texts may fol-
low in the wake Of those that have pre-
ceeded them, and subside into simple
suneringon the part Of the strikers and
their ultimate submission. But it IS an
uudoubtod fact that it is much more
formidable than any ever witnessed in
Texas by reason, not only
of the determination of tho
parties engaged, but Of tho sympathy
expressed openly for them by citizens
generally. II the HERALD is able to
eliminate the question properly, II Is
about this' The laborors say that they
have not enough paid them for their
labor; that their wages have been un-
necessarily reduced; that they cannot
live honestly on what is proposed to
give them and that they have a right 20
resort TO force to compel the companies
to give them more than they propose.
10 this tho railroads reply that they
have a right to offer as much or little as
they please for any species Of labor they
may choose to employ, and to reduce
their pay roll as their means to pay sug-
gests; that their losses in the last season
have been beyond precedent, and on the
Texas & Pacific particularly with refer
ence to the cutting OF Of their eastern
connections in Louisiana and their
western IN Texes 10y inuudatlons; that
II .the laborers do not wish to serve
them, they can get their pay and seek
other employment, and that they are
no mora compelled to give, or
offer TO give more wages than their
in ONE admits, than private parties.
The companies also stouuy deny that
discharged working mon have the right
to resort to mob violence in asserting
claims which they acknowledge they
cannot enforce by law.
Now it appears to tho HERALD that
there is some truth and much fallacy in
both positions. As a general PROPOSE
[ ton tho roads have no right TO disregard
the public veal, nor hOys they the right
TO ignore thetact that they are in pos
session of great privileges granted by
the public. To certain extent they are
monopolies, possess franchises and
must not be iorgetful OF the fact that
whilst the stockholders own the mate
rial interests they were conferred upon
them by the public for the public good.
They are not in Tho position of farmer,
who employ hands, because the farmer
has received no benefit from his right tC
, employ hands TO do work 10 tho e1olu
sion Of other people. AZ All abstract
proposition they are probably correct
but when the circumstances of theii
creation and continued exist
. enco are considered they are wrong
And wrong why? Because they fail t,
consider their relation to the gros
: public that broathed into them then
+ powerful vitality.
9 On tho other hand, the strikers ar
i right in the leading idea that the
T. SHOULD have enough 10 live on and sur
o port their families whilst in the emplo
}. of the roads, who should aot smplo
It any one, except on tho principle tn.
the laborer is entitled to his hire. Nc
D., will common sense justify the ideo ths
u bocausss corporation can employ tramp
% for trino to de its work, decent labC
% should be abrogated and their payroll
g purged Of the names Of men willing
y do honest labor FOR honest prices. An
u yet how tSarfuly wrong are the
~ strikers in their course at presen
10 They illustrate the very idea itself tbs
y extremes meet, and adopt the wror
" principles of the companies in deiyir
10 public opinion and disregardlng publ
VI peace and general interest. They ha'
no right, because they deem themselv
ha wrouged, to crash through the who
ms interest of great communities for the
cd redress. They can find no excu
he in the fact that the compani
~ disregard the public welfare, in makiI
va war upon the public itself TO che
n travel; TO choke up commerce; 20 {
Az. danger life itself, aud invoke riot a
"a. violence, is far more regardless OF
,.r great duties due the people
"a. large than the conduct of the corp
atoms with whom they contel
Other means must he resortod
aid in order TO enforce equity.
his thoy do not at present see the mo-
tod they should turn their energies towI
ur- tho adoption of some way TO cncomp
not their object; but IL they prscipitat
to involve the comfort and convenienc,
,or. society at large, they will soon disco
tho that the same fate awaits the pres
be strike that has hitherto attended tn
r whose agencies were violence
AXE whose rule OF action was only the ~
hcstion of present passion