The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-09-10
LABOR STRIK Es-TRADGs ONION.
The Problem of the Conflict of Capital
Upd Labor.

and Labor.
AUSTIN, Sept. 4.-lCorrespon6snce.]
There is popular prejudice against
all corporations, but perhaps more
pronounced against railroad corpora
tions, aud any strike of railroad en-
ployes is sure to have the sympathy
of oil those who are not anxious
to travel step or receive freight
by rail. The strikers have
:, grown wiser in their day and genera
tion, and by prudontly restraining
their actisn to persuasion have kept
within tho pale of the law aud pre-.
vented that large class of bummers
and loafers, to whom violence gives an
opportunity for plumber, from becom-
ing identified or rather Identifying
with them honest workmen.
It was noticed in the railroad strike
at Galveston that tho moment per-
aonal excitement was about to carry
some one OF them beyond the limits of
legal argument and per-
suasion with employees who
proposed to run engines, that cool
and conservative voice, speaking as
with authority, commanded 81 salt. 1t
was like the voice of an officer when a
regiment was about to stampede. 1t
controlled and quieted the impulsive
ardor that would havo precipitated q
conflict and given ground for the ex-
ercise of military authority.
In this the knights of Labor have
grown wiser. 1t exhibits, also, the
fact that the combinationsO of workmen
are much more Thoroughly organized,
and it also gives promise of much
more effectiveness to their acton here
after.
While public sympathy is generally
with railroad operatives, 1t must be
remembered that there are two sides
to this question. It has been often
said that railroad dividends ere made
at the cost of railroad operatives oy
to be sOulless. That i5 q fact, md as
these corporations are largely moncpo-
lists tho only
WAY TO CURE THAT EVIL
is for the Legislature of the State to be
very careful in the terms of the char
ters, by which these roads are
permitted their privileges. Iknow it
rs impossible to fix by legislation,
any scale of wages between the rail-
road company and their employees, but
it seems to mo 1t would be entirely
VOlIi 06btub lOI ~ ltHtbittbulO w LA q
certain profit that must be made by
the company before dividend should
be declared, so that the companies
should not be allowed to reduce the
wages OF tho operatives in order to be
able to pay a dividend, or tho State
might reserve the right in charters for
the board of public works to
ARuITRATE or QUESTIONS OF WAGES
between the company and
Its employees. Certainly some
hing Of the kind must be
done now, as the workmen are so we'll
organized, to prevent oppression by
corporations that would result In
atrfkos that viii injure all commerce.
y On the other hand, railroads are alb
solutely necessary for the develop
ment and prosperity OF the country,
and their rights should be ss equttably
protects d, but It IL evident nothing
can be ouHe for that protection rs lbDg
a. the strikers obey The law and use
& only argument to prevent the other
Wo1 KIM from taking their places.
DurarY the tiy: 4, OF violence whom 90
mue.Irs head pro perry was destroyed
III y AAIuRof,p COMPANIES
had largely. tbs advantage; they couh
and old call ON the strong arm . tisa
militsry iur rrotection, and then they
\tccoycSea le:ge damages from the city