Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-31
The Southwest Labor Troubles.

The Southwest Labor Troubles
The very general anxiety for settle
ment OF the labor troubles in the SOUTH
west was the main reason, doubtless,
why General Master Powderly and about
everybody else interpreted Jay Gould }
telegram to General Manager HoXie to
mean That arbitration had been agreed
upon, when, in fact, Mr.. Gould did not
intend that it should have that meaning.
What he intended to say, and what his
telegram apparently does say, is that if
Mr.. Hoxe thought there were differences
! between the Missouri Pacific and its en-
pIoyes he was at liberty to decide whether
they were OF a character to be submitted
to arbitration.
Nevertheless, if the Knights of Labor
had accepted General Master Powderly's
statement, with respect to Mr.. Gould's
position, and had returned to work in &C
cordance with his order, there is good
reason for thinking that a settlement
would have been reached speedily that
would have been wholly satisfactory to
the knights Rather than to have mad
the strike renewed it is probable that Mr..
Gould would have opened the way for an
arbitration. The difficulty is in reaching
an arbitration, not in settling differences.
The differences are really of so insignlti-
cant a character that there are compare
lively few Of the striking Knights who
are able to state them. In fact. the origl-
nal reason for the strike has been aban-
doned altogether, and other reasons have
hot oh
lied parties Of neither side have had an
opportunity to examine.
Speaking from the standpoint of the
Knights, 1t is clear, from the refusal OF
the knights to obey the order of General
Master Powderly to return TO work, that
the organization of the knights of labor
has grown too fast for its own good with
in the last year or two. Men have been
taken in by the thousands whose ideas
are exceedingly crude with respect to it's
purposes and methods. Many of them look
upon it as an instrument OF vengeance,
or a means for accomplishing purely
selfish purposes, rather than an institu-
tion for the protection of workingmen and
the advancement OF their material
interests. There are others of it's men,
bers who entertain opinions which are
wholly at variance with it's objects, and
who, instead of aiming to contribute to
the welfare of workingmen, delight in
producing trouble and confusion.
General Master Powderly says that he
does not believe in strikes, and day or
two ago he said that the boycott should
he used very seldom, and only when there
are the very best of reasons for it. AS
summing that he speaks for the most intel
ligent portion of the organization-the
law and order portiOn-it is evident that
most decisive means must be taken to
bring the organization back TO first
principles. There are signs now that t
is becoming great mob without inteli-
gent direction, striking without clearly de-
fined aim or purpose, and liable to do in
calculable damage without securing any
benefits for workingmen. Already there
are discussions, aud local leaders are not
only denying the authority OF the General
Master, but seem to aim at superseding
him. in the estimation of the public, as the
real leader in the present troubles. This
condition of affairs if not quickly remedied
VIII soon work the ruin OF the organiza-
ton.
1t may be questioned whether it can be
remedied. 1t is difficult to restore dis
cipline and obedience waen once they
have been abandoned. If the Organiza-
tion breaks into factions, and men who
have but faint idea OF the responsibility
of their positions come to the front as
leaders. the boycott and strikes will be
resorted to not only often, but without
any justifiaDe cause. No organization
can flourish in the face of a hostile public
sentiment, and the knights of Labor,
whether they continue as one great or
ganization or break up into many organi-
cations, m ay expect to encounter hostile
public sentiment when they haven't right
clearly on their side.