New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-27
THE LABOR REVOLT.
A SUGGESTION OF PEACEFUL REMEDIES

YTDN-THE FUNCTION OF Law.
=. fAs Edttor Of The Tribune.
s,p. The pre.eut labor disturbances do not seem to
have beeu By business disasters dsprcs
on or an increase in price scarcity of the staple
.rt,cIes Of food consumed by the working class
Doubtes, an undercurren of the causes affecting the
relation which wages bear the necessary expenses of
vage workers has had some eject, but do not ut
present propose analysis of such causes The fact
appears to be that the workers tor wages in this
country have year. been coming 20 the con-
illusion that the oaid to them inadequate,
their lot in the present conditions of civilization too
hard and the opportunities for bcttering their
condition gradually getting beg md their reach
The workman, hike Oliver Twist, stands before his
employer plate in hand, and, in whimpering tone
demands some MORE"
II will hardly do to cay that this labor revolt has
been caused by incorrect social and political theories,
or that The workman has been betrayed into false
position by demagogues. The disatection is TOO VIDE
spread not to come from real causes If we candidy
compare modern wages with the expense of maintain
ing q comfortable home in modern times, the most
scevtical will admit that the complaint IL not without
foundation Let every far-mnded employer capitalist
or middle ran put himself and family in the orkmans
place. and see how he would Ike it, Nor can we justly
charge the workmen. a class, with incompetence
extravaganza Incidence, tor these vices exist IN
greater degree according to numbers among the more
6is classes lis possible then Tor All Tue
Interested parties to come to fair and sensible
conclusion as to what would De just meaSSre ~
compensation all things considered or labor NOT 10
be placed ut the lowest price at when work mfy
be obtained by taking advantage OF the necessities
or nistprtunes workingmen, bat what would ensbie
the faithful and Competent workingmen OF America
to maintain their families respectfully and Leave with
proper economy. small surplus tor misfortune or ad-
yancenent in lie.
We must not deceive ourselves to the character
of such o proposition. Higher wages mean lower
profits lower rate OF interest on capital employee
an,f n
OF these We must not delude ourselves into the nope
that conference between employer ard employed VIII
resnlt IN increased compensation for both. The
uoney to pay tor increased wages cannot De drawn
from an mae mary fund, but must come from an
share what the work mans labor helps 10
produce The employer the middleman the capitalist
ana 18th them the great corporate interests that
suck 40 much blood from the lire Of trade must look
nnou IN from point OF view which invo YES parting
with a portion OF what they have been getting Let
those who have been drawing more generous snare
of the national output OF wealth ask themselves
Can we be content 10 have smaller balance at our
bankers to have les luxurious houses or equpages.
10 puy fever foreign wines. silks jewelry. or other
Snerr' in order that the wages of workueD be
increased he proposition is Al many respects nco.
venieut and unpalataole. VIII these persons releo'
such couciliatory mode of settlement and determine
II possible, to enforce present conditions
Thriving business men, satisfied with their present
business management may think this atemporary
snuall thai nsy blow over. They NAV congratulate
each other ire Iuent defeat OF strikers recenY
and hope that the resources or patience Oh
wage-workers will be exhausted. There has been
acme evidence OF the organization OF employers aun
capital to check the movements oil organ zrd iaoer:
The employing interest," determined on permanent
resistance 10 the increase of or tie dimnnton
of the hours OF labor, may resolve, or may nave
rasoIvad on these points: LIST, That they will only
olnize individual workers, and wage war on all
labor ore anzations; I'd, That they will black list
all members OF lsoor societies or trades unions, or AT
all active leaders these who render thetDse yes
obnoxious 20 them and by concert of action shut the
gates of every workshop against these men !;
3D., To revive old English 1naieai incomes
of conspiracy, ignore tho American doc.rne
that there can be no criminal conspiracy
but on the commission OF an actua CRIME,
90 bv law and -ndeavor to have defined oY
statnte orraEized of LABOR societies IA crime
4th 10 meet possible popular revolt TO reinforce the
municipal conatsLn.ary 1orce with hired volunteer
40 90 acting w der the orders OF existing auth 1rlies
State and ity--this might be styled :" militia or
National Guard. ,..,,,,
cannot cope with capital great employers, aud tha'
they have right to organize 10 protect tner craft 10
the second hat the independent, manly sDfi' Oh
en- wurkinpmen is one most valuable OF all the
n.,ioral properties, that there Cannot s5ieiJ oe
nroseripye war lainst and that u wod De
st al the caoCal in the country sh' ud he tied In
bap aud hurled into Toph't than tnaI IL shoue NC
crushed or zen TO che thirn thaI Is noa ~ Ie
oualic interest to iacture crines or criminals
- we cannot afford swell the lawless ciaSS oN
disstisted workmen and that he comfort prosperity
and expaa i've growth of worklngInen Is inuspensao
s.ho x,.tsnce of our government; % tue fourth, ma
eli ttemuts 10 eva lie the spirit Of the American ni'
tsrn "a con EN- lated BY the founders OF the TOsern
mani will end in disaster. and that the ohlV 'ust m
torce s "A military OF al the people, from wnich oV 'o
shall he drawn those needed TOR the delence Vi III
IufrV
Dia American army outside the body OF its citizcus
IN the coercIve plan embraced 10 these lour
conId succeed in so s,aping them, 1t would uterl,
fail and he barren OF all peace anu 7o0i''' ~" "
sys ems of coercion must oe. ,, io.to,s .
- On the other hand the formidable ORGANIZATIONS
Iohr that have going on must nos De misunuel
tnod Tie OF the past Two years are ou
the preliminary skrmishes- Each OF the opposin
interests has ben probing to feel me nerve
rasouroes OF the other. Thr lsLor leaders oegihc
find they have made some mistakes. "h1n we III
the widest differences between Polo7opues ~
10 exnect that meu who dig or hammer for zen
twelve hours lay shol settle them by nee lntuuoI
To carry out a successful sy-t-m OF Strikes apo
Ill have 70 be completely organized. Whhe I'd
Kniahts of Labor and trades unions are at presen
yerv formidable bodice Iaoor Is not CO up -
49, aa,;-sd and can hardly be said to act IN concer
Neither does appear that these organzntiohs nse
well-settlei plan OF operations ~ 3D. O"T ~
the hopeful signs that strikes as d 'en Gun 49,
seem 10 meet the want or to secure luii measure
popular approval Many prominrnt hnSnts OF LAM AN
a,, 20 entertain distrust of them. otrikes are not
rnodern in yention. The workman throws MS wage
often al he has into the breach hoping that tne
of workinemen will be general and oy arresI I :.
-. n hosiuess be hopes TO compel us employer
giye better wages. That IL peacelu' stilAe. .
Strikes how ever, are not peaceful Ou lno IN a.
thev have usually in this and other countries pee
acconpanied by more or less violence ana awessnes
It i tie precipitation OF trying anu tuI ouent N"e
the tendency of which is TO violence. s'rKer sees
.sr.an who could not compete with hlm IN u
ordinary conditions of trade step INTO MS pace III
enabling his employ er TO Sc, tne b u,er,,ner
.ra;tor 10 the interests of workingmen, or tnat
should proceed from annoyance ana 'ntlm laa
violence In protracted strike Us the -
desperate, the property of the refractory employers
ant to suier In this way the ne between peac ch
measures and violence Is crossed anu ''1o 81 !.
Iaaames amenablc TO the law In despotic countrle
while strikes often srernly and even cru ,s,
suppressed, despoc govern nents oitea 80.
sha,n her than the sleeping volcano oee
finder our form of government il is different wni'e
certain degree of violence in strikes Is hunorea.
ioakrd ON with Indifference the great majority Ie'
that "a The sovere is responsible Tor the MANI
nance Of law and order, AMI whenever ,nesc Z
ser,ousy menAced. sympathy Tor ,he str'AerS oeoo"
secondary and peace Is maintained
As members OF labor societies grope tneir WY -