The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1886-03-27
TWO VIEWS.
LahOr-causs sai Oecasioa.
TAyalanehe.l

causes of the strikes. Many are
probing about here and there at
the root of this strike and that.
There is much criticism as to what
are called the causes. Many are
prompt to assert that these are in
each and every case inadequate.
The general prevalence of
strikes, the wide spread discon.
tent aud the evident connection
of each with all by some subtle tie
stamps the movement one aud
justifies the calling it an industrial
revolution.
Those who are searching in the
circumstances of each particular
agitation are only examining the
various occasions. The causes
lie deeper.
1t is enough to say of the cause
of any revolution that it exists.
That the revolution is rife is proof
of cause. The occasions, or any
one of them, may be trivial and
apparently inadequate. The dis.
missal of a single man in Texas
may be inadequate. The matter
of rates which produces a strike
of miners in Pennsylvania may
hardly justify cessation of labor
and loss of time. The grievances
of the Southern Pacific people
may hardly, alone, justify an inter.
ruption of commerce aud work.
What is il that lies back of
strikes aud boycott, so generally
prevailing as to make the exis.
tence of some prevailing cause
and unity of sentiment a necessa.
ry inference' What is 1t that
makes men do, often upon what
seems inadequate occasion, what
would DO the folly Of madness il
it were causeless.
There must be and there is a
profound and great cause for q
great effort, even though the va
rious occasions of its particular
phases and manifestations are, OF
appear, sometimes inadequate.
That cause lies in the fatally de-
fective business organization oi
this country. That 1t exists Ii
dimly seen and the evils recog
nized although they have not beer
clearly outlined or remedies sug
gested. Of all errors that 0
thinking for moment that thi
} movement is causeless should b,
, avoided.
AN INTERVIEW WITH JAY GoULT
Jacksonville, Fla, March To-
Mr.. Jay Gould to-day, speakip
for the first time respecting tb
. strike by the Knights of Labor o
b. the Missouri Pacific and the r,
). naming portion Of the Goul
Southwestern system, said to
|. reporter of the Associated Presl
q 81 first learned of the stril
{ while at Havana, and have bee
|. advised by telegraph Of the cha
acter of the trouble, more partic
larly since my arrival here. I'll
n strike on our system was q col
!. plete surprise TO me for two re
, sons: First, we had acceded
: all the demands which had bee
a made upon us by our employee
, and were supposed to be workir
in harmony with them; secon
= the present strike is made upC
= an issue with which We have not
9 ing to do, and which we cam,
Il possibly arbitrate or control.
r. "The present strike" continue
Mr.. Gould, Originated in :he di
a charge of an employe named Ha
, on the Texas and Pacific, whit
n road is in the hands of the Unite
States Court. We have no mo
o. right to attempt to control u
n working of that system than u
r. workiDgmen themselves,and wou
=. be as completely in contempt
!. attempt to do SO as any other OF
;. sider.n
g Regarding another aspect of u
, strike, Mr.. Gould said: "Tl
, public may not be aware of it, b
the same issue was raised VIII,
. some men we're discharged on Il
= Warbash Railway at time whit
7, it was in the control of the Unit
=, States Court. MIR. Powderly, chi
>. of the Executive Committee
% the knights of Labor, called up,
10 me to secure the reinstatement
70 these men. The subject was tn
. fully discussed, and / told N
!, Powderly that | had no power
the matter, not even an advise
,, one without a request from t
u court.
IN "At this interview | told \
Us Powderly that If any grievanc
xt existed among our men, ifhe wou
a. bring them to our attention
% would endeavor to right the
'h We recognized the necessity
i remaining on good terms with o
10 people, to whom one half of