The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-09
THE NEW YORK "TIE-UP.s

under way, was the result that might nave
been expected when it was begun. For
weeks the former employees of the Third
avenue line had been on strike, and sub
sisting, as best they could, on the assessments
levied on those of the Knights of Labor who
had not struck against their respective en-
ployers. So long had this been kept up, and
so apparent had it become that the strike was
a failure that the men out Of work were very
much discouraged at the prospect Of continu-
ing out of employment, and those who had
SO long been called upon to helr the strikers
had become SO tired of it that something had
to be done. Some one among them foolishly
advised a general movement, the purpose
being to paralyze all the lines at the same
time, and compel their managers to cooperate
to secure an adjustment of the trouble existing
between the Third-avenue men and their for
mer employers, with which not one in ten of
those who Joined the tie-upo of Saturday had any
thing to do. These men, already tired of the
senseless experiment, were in no mind to help
keep it up, so the whole scheme collapsed,
and the men sensibly returned to work, and
are now in the enjoyment of the wages they
had been receiving.
The strike Of Saturday was not without
some benefit, in that it showed to some OF
those who were inveigled into it that there
was strong sentiment against 10000 men
being thrown out of employment because of a
disagreement between other men and their
employers, with which they could have moth
ing to do. The feeling prevailed that more
men should not be called upon to suffer for no
fault of their own and for reasons that at best
were questionable. Moved by this sensible
conclusion, SO many men expressed the de-
termination to return to work, without the
consent Of the district assembly, that it was
deemed best to formally order the men back
to work, which was done, and the strike which
was to accomplish so much fell to pieces for
want Of moral support. 1t was repetition of
the experience of the employees of the Missouri
Pacific railway, though, happily, with far less
serious inconvenience to the men, who were
quicker to realize that it would mot pay. The
men at the head of the Knights Of Labor will
yet realize that they cannot indefinitely
hoodwink the masses of honest and
thinking workingmen. There is i'm
mnent danger already of a speedy
collapse OF the organization, which, when it
does start to 60 to pieces, will tumble like
cob house. 1t is impossible that the mem
bers of it will continue to submit to the re-
peated acts of tyranny that have been forced
upon them during the past few months, to
their vast and irreparable harm. The thou
sands of men Inconvenience and well nigh
impoverished by the Missouri Pacific strike,
which was ordered without the consent of
the men who were most interested, and the
victims of similar orders whereby SO many
have been deprived of the means Of decent
living, will not soon forget these things, but
will reflect before giving consent to them in
the future. The DULLES in the organization
have taken advantage of the backing afforded
them by honest men among them, and have
rushed them into strikes and tie-ups, and
boycotts that could not be justified, and con-
sequently could not be maintained. The
men who give character and stability to
that organization are not the men who have
occasion to make use of its strength. The
men who give strength to it, give
their strength for the benefit of others
These men are beginning to think seriously
of the advantages and disadvantages that &C
crne to them through their alliance with this
organization. The day is not far distant, un-
less a change is apparent, when they will
come to the conclusion that it does not pay,
and when that time comes the day of its dis
solution is at hand. When the Powderlys
have to give way to the Martin Ironses, it is
coming near the time when there will be no
organization known as the Knights of Labor
for it will no longer be reputable to be mem
Der. 1t will be an easy thing to send the
Powderlys to the background, and to bring
such men to the front as will guarantee an
''active, aggressive campaign" 1t looks as
though this was to be attempted now. When
it is accomplished, half the strength of the
organization will disappear. With men at the
head who take action like that taken in the
case of the Missouri Pacific, and others no less
uncalled for, the existence of the Knights of
Labor is at an end. There is no escape from
this conclusion. Friends of organized labor
everywhere will continue to hope that the
wisdom that has saved them from so much
trouble and expense will not be despised by