New-York tribune., 1886-08-12
uorKFRS and EMPLOrERS.

The struggle of trades unlonlet> asahs'
Kuichts of Labor hl- brought great suffering
upon many workers and their families. Ihc
cigarmakcrs are not rolling IN wealth, ~ /"
rule, and when work stops there are not very
many who have La gc bank accounts upon which
they can support in comfort their wives ana
children. Real want Is felt by some; many
others get involved in debt which mortgage
their future and thcii hecd'sn many more tail
into habits which destroy health or manhood.
There have been many efforts to calcn-
late the cost of a great strike. But not singl'
one Of these efforts HIS included the most I'M
portant item, the loss involved in health, habits
Of industry, and moral character, to winch the
weaker always are exposed IL time OF l~cula
strain. Who can compute the money value OF
an industrious and worthy maE Ia the com
munitv, u his friends especially Ia hl' wife
and children, or even 10 himself I But when
the very nature of tie man is changed, when
lac comes to rcgud all sccieiy rs ariyod III
pitless hostility to him and TO other workers,
and ccses to care for public respect OF ior ms
duties as a citizen; when he loses li' hibitr
of frugal and patient industry, and begins to
believe that there is no Use IN hoping Tor bet
ter things. except by some kind OF cray war
against property Nlu r"'ii 'iu'I WIZ" wv
habit of excitement and the fierce JOY OF STRIFE
master him when stimulntS get to bc necca-
>ity and labor a hated seryitudc Is thee any
body who can calculate the amount oi loss
There is not an intelligent worker who does not
know that many become thus d,mor.LzCd and
permanently warped rs a result OF every great
struggle between labOcrs and employers, and
that the loss to the workmen, considered as an
industrial and social body. is greater than any
loss of wages involved.
But n far greater number of men sustain a
loss which, if less severe to the individual, Is
even greater in the aggregate. They lose the
sense Of self-relismcc and independence the
habit of counting upon capacity TO do good
work as their sur,St and best defence. They
ccsnc to rely upon al organization, which Is too
often practically directed by those who are not
fine best woIkmen and many of whom get a
living from their fellows by melting and keep
ing I'D strikes. They come to regard supcrl-
o,ity In work as a foolish gift to Il grasplng en-
,Iovor and train iii, III elves to think riLit thc
less they can possibly do for a days wages, the
bettcr il is for them and for the whole body OF
workers That is what economists mean wleE
thcv sneak of the deterioration of labor, ANA
t,acb that wages would be at least % per cent
hehor all around than they are to-day if Labor
wer, as wiling steady and efficient as It u,ed
(, be. Because the workers rs a body produce
less. there are fewer things produced to be dl-
yded among them as wages the men who get
what 81. 900 900 600 will buy this year have
actually thrown away what $2,oOO,OOo.OOO
would buy. through doing les elective work
than their iatheis did.
No humane person can Eiil to sympathzc
most kcenly with tlese men In their misguided
and sell-defeating strife. II is terrible to think
of the suffering which these struggles cau,c To
MANY Eirnilie,, of the want and disease which
follow in the tain Of labor wals, as famine and
pc.tilcnce sweep over country in the tack Of
IN invading army. There are employers, per
hans. who grow 30 embitterod by demands
which seem TO them unjust. or by frequent re-
sorts To cruelty and crime in support OF a strike
that they forget al the suilerngs OF the work
ers and those dependent on them. But they
| have no right to forget. Even when uniiinch-
ing resistance to unjust dictation l. duty, en-
| ployoIs ought TO remember that misguided and
| ill-uformcd men have 10 bear after all the
| terrible con- equcnccs of unwlse leadership and
prejudicci beliefs, and tho result 10 them IL not
| a mere loss of interest OH capital invested, for
| some weeks OF months, but loss of livelihood,
! perhaps of health or character. And yet, how
| ever sincere the sympathy felt 10y many tsn-
| ployors the workers not rarely spun it and dis
| believe in it, and look with suspicious hostility