The Indianapolis journal., 1886-04-11
wan street and the Strike.


Although Wall street is In a quandary as to
which side to take In the present fight between
capital and labor, even the most socialistic bro
kers could not repress smile over the manifesto
of the Knights of Labor against Gould. OF
course, capital is all powerful in the street. but
stock kbrokers are no fools and know that it is of
no use without the constant aid of labor. Gould,
again, is no favorite in Wall street. lut when he
is described in abstract meaningless erms, such
as crazy French Communist might have used,
Wall street smiles and calls attention TO the day
when Major Selover took the giant hend' by
the coat collar and dropped him down an area
wall street, together with the country at large,
wants some concrete accusation against man,
not abstract statements If anything of stock
ichhing nature could be proved in Gould's atti-
tude towaras tha5 Knights of Labor it would be
of some use; bpt as the case stands at present
there is no reason for supposing that Mr. Could
any more than Mr.. Mcdowell, is using the strikes
for speculative purposes.
The manifesto of the executive committee was
very poorly conceived and still more poorly
written document, and the general verdict is that
II the knights of Labor have nothing more busi-
ness-like or sensible to say. they will do better If
they shut up and go with their fight, leaving
the talking TO facts Bombastic platitudes do not
take In practical country like this, although
they have occasionally taken during exciting
stltious population of the continent of Europe.
1t is idiotic to talk in this country of chain be
ing already forged and "our children becoming
slaves" There is no land on the face of the
globe where public opinion is more just and
equitable in all the conflicts between poor and
rich, weak and strong. BE it in street fight, in
the courts of law or in a contest of any kind,
the public cry is invariably 'Fair play' and the
spontaneous expression of public sympathy is
invariably with the weaker and the poorer.
Of course. aTt9r whisky.
the great intoxicating drink of Amer
lea. But the public gets tipsy on it only
after it has become convinced that it is legiti-
mate article. Every lawful step forward on the
part of the Knights of Labor would be applauded
by the whole continent but stupid manifestoes
will do them almost as much harm as acts of
violence If the latter revolt public opinion the
former annoy it. To talk now about 'infamy
and outrages' by which the immense wealth o.
the giant fend" has been accumulated is sheer
humbug. Why did the law of the country permit
him to do so. and why is not legal investigation
established now to find out and punish his wrong
d0ingsY BY merely bowling that this monster
of perfidy" must be overthrown the knights of
Labor will not achieve more than if they had
published a complaint about Jay Gould eating
every day Strawberries and peaches from his
green houses, while they could never manage to
have anything better for dinner than pork and
beans.
No one can tell when and how this lamentable
contest will come to end. but all earnest and
thoughtful citizens feel uneasy about it. The very
expression of the faces Of men one meets in bus
mess circles seems to have changed. They don't
joke and don't laugh as much as before, even
over sociable dinner, and wherever one goes
one hardly hears anything but the question of
strikes discussed This is quite an uncomfort
able state of affairs for newspaper correspond
ent for he does not get anything to write about.
well-known New York character has Just
departed in the person of Edward A. Bedloe, for
merly merchant in this city, and an intimate
friend of the late Lorenzo Demonco. Many
years ago Mr.. Bedloe lost nearly all his money,
and since then lived on an annuity of 81, 900.
During Lorenzo Delmonico's lifetime be might be
seen day and night at his restaurants with two
old cronies the three gray haired friends being
known as the Three Graces Mr.. Bedloe was
familiarly known as Prince Salad" and the ''Pie
Detective" the latter sobriquet having been ac-
quired in Delmonicos house in Beaver street,
where he used to watch the brokers and clerks
eating cakes and report them if they forgot to
pay sk the desk as they went out Bedloe's ISL
and, on which the Statute Of Liberty is being
erected. is named after of Mr.. Bedloe's an
cesrors. and his death brings up host of remi-
niscences of old New York. Among other things
for which Mr.. Bedloe was famous was the intro
duction into sporting circles of Berry Wall, the
king of the dudes. Before ''plunging' upon any
race Berry used to consult his ancient friend.
and no doubt gained experience. if not money,
by these transactions. RIGoLo.