Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-02
THE STREET CAR STRIKE,
Shrewd POliticIanr trimming Said 20
Catch the WOrkingman's Vote.

flmNnluE SAAO 10
Catch the WOrkingman's Vote.
NEW YORK, April 3O.-The Third
Avenue railroad strike and the fndict-
ment of 30 boycotters by the grand jury
will have decisive effect upon the cleo
tioas this fall. Shrewd politicians are
trimming sail, and preparing for a storm.
The trade unions are developing bitter
feeling over the indictments for conspir-
acy, and it looks as though the Knights of
Labor would be forced into the political
field independent of the wishes Of Mr..
Powderly. They begin TO see that all the
machinery OF the law is in the
hands OF the employers, and
that it is to be used to crush the en-
ployes. They are beginning to learn
why it IS that in this model republic boy
cotters can be indicted, while in OPP
pressed Ireland the English apthorities
can legally do nothing to crush them.
The fact that in this city they are indict-
ed for conspiracy incenses nearly every
working man. He asks why 1t is that the
conspiracy bolt is leveled against the
laborer alone.
He wants to know why employers who
conspire to put up the price of coal,
are not indicted. He inquiries why the
railroad men who cOnspire to raise the
cost of transportation are not punished.
He sees the law used in the interests Of
employers and against the interests of
employees, and he is already looking for a
remedy This it Ia that Is exciting
the interests of keen politicians. They
recognize the power that can control the
ballot box, and they are waiting Tor the
IN OF n tn q no. Ia oh THAR
sktfs anew. The shrewdest Among them
are already at work in the Legs ature,
Introducing bnls in DehalfOf the strikers.
A prominent candidate for Congress in
Pulitzef's district is yainly fighting their
battles In the courts, and, ex-Sherif
epBfien, byEo means rich man. has sent
$500. Tue District Attorney is execrated
! for his eagerness 10 secure indictments
AGAINST the bOycot'ers lfhb was a cam
didate for office to-day be would be beaten
by over 90, 600 majority.
The knights recognize the blow, but
they do not understand how it was dealt.
The explanation, hnwever, is very simple.
The grand juries here are composed al
most exclusively OF employers. 1t is safe
70 say that no member of a labor union
has served on a grand jury for years.
Once a month a new grand Jury is Sc
fected. 1t consists Of twenty-Lhree men,
selected each year by -four judges, the
County Clerk, Commissioners of Jurles,
and Sheriff, In former years politicians
had some voice in the selection OF the 700,
but two or three years ago the judges COM
bined, aud laid out the three county Off
cials. Having a majority OF the board,
they chose men of "talr standing" but
f. they themselves were judges as 10 the
standing" Probably not one in thirty
of fbsa NJ ON nj
cent. are employers. The result is easily
fOreseen. They are using their
official positions for their per-
eonal benefit under the plea that 1t
is for the good of the public. They
summon two bOycotted employers, get
from them a list OF their striking en-
plOyes, and on their eXparte statements
lind indictments against forty-seven
members OF Labor Unions The poor
working men are required either to give
separate bail bonds for $500 or 90 to Jail.
What makes the matter worse is that the
accused loses all the privileges that he
would be entitled to IN a Police Court.
There the Judge would investigate the
case and discharge him If the complain
ants allegations were unsustained. Here
the grand jury itself, virtually an ass0ci-
alton OF employers, arrests and bonds or
imprisons any workman who an employer
CuObSS w dCCuSCt OuC SluS bhl1 10 utdIQ
aud there is no remedy until the man is
brought before jury at the pleasure of
the District Attorney. The grand jury
system in this city indirectly gives the
employer power to seize his workmen by
the throat and choke him into submission.
This is what is being done to-day,
and being done by the action of the very
men who were elected to Office by
the votes of wOrkiBgmen. Its effect will
probably nulity all attempts to elect a
reform municipal ticket this fall. The
arrest of the members Of the Board of
Aldermen of 1884, charged with bribery,
had given a good foundation for the elec.
ton OF sucn ticket. Under present cir.
cumstances it looks as though organized
labor would regard such a movement as
a shreW d scheme of employers to fasten
the guyeB more firmly on it's wrists.
With the bitter efemefrt of the County
Democracy roped into a reform move
: ment under a secret bargain with Re-
pubhcans, the knights of Labor would
suBd0ubiedly swing into hneJunder the
Tammany banner. AS it is the pra-
torfans are ineensed, and they hold the
balance Of power. ZIsKA.
srH