The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-10-07
no STRIKES PAY?

The fixed policy OF the knights o.
and other thoroughly organized lapoi
c;atious is to avert strikes, whenever po
b1o Arbitration is recommended as y peO-
FOR means Of adjusting difficulties between
EMPLOYER and employee. The reason 'or ,na
conciliatory policy is found in the 1act 'iaV
even when successful, strikes almost inVaii-
IDLY result in loss and deprivation 70 '"'
wage-worker.
The Cigar;makers' Union, at It's recent
meeting at Cincinnati, made puD'ic so'"e
statistics with regard to strikes that are
not less significant than instructive. Our
ing the past two years the union pa1d OUT
to support strikers in their contests WIN
employers the sum OF 100000, when hao'
of course, come from the previous earnings
of union workmen. The amount OF wages
lost by the strikers during their idleness
must have been much greater thar the as
s%istance rendered them by the union, but
even if it were no more, we have the sum OF
1920, 900, taken from the cigar-makers
earnings and lost in the effort to secure an
advance in wages. It would be interesting
to learn how far this loss was covered bv
the sain in wages secured by the successful
strikes, but as to this point there seemed TO
be no information available. So lar as re-
liable statistics go, the weight of evidence
appears to show hat the direct losses to
laborers by strikes are far larger than the
gains that accrue from success in this dlrec-
ton: while if we add the ind rect losses OF
employers and capitalists through the di-
minrtion of interest and profits and diver
sion of business, the strike, as Il business
venture, is far from being a success.
These thoughts suggest themselves in view
OF the fact that the men employed in the
mines OF the Union Pacific Railway Com
pany have quit their work and remain
away from it,. The mines at Carbon IN
Wyoming, Erie, Boulder and Louisville in
Colorado, and, indeed, all the Union Pacific
collieries, excepting those at Como and
Gunnison, are now idle. 1t is altogether
probable that sufficient pressure will be
brought to close all the mines. In that
event, the company will be dependent en-
tirely upon the mines at Rock Springs,
which are worked by Mormons and China
men. The reason given for the strike by
the Colorado miners is that there have
been inaccuracies in the weighing OF coal,
but this is regarded as a mere subteriuge by
the company's officials, who assert that it
is a strike ordered to assist the men at
Rock Springs, in the belief tina a general
strike, closing all the mines owned or con-
trolled by the company, and thus cutting
of the supply, will force the management
to terms.
The company is defiant and confidently
expresses its ability to operate the road in
the face OF any thing that the miners may
do. We cannot help but believe that the
miners are making a mistake. With the
power Of the Government behind them, the
managers will be able to bring men from
the East, Mormons from the West OF
Chinese from San Francisco to work their
mines, leaving their old employees Idle and
in want. In view Of this fact the force OF
which must be apparent to the most obtuse
we think the Union Pacific miners arr
making a very serious mistake.
Ii strikes for an increase Of wages or fol
the mere maintenance OF wages are not
profitable. how can a strike such as this
just entered pom prove OF benefit to the
wageworkcr?