The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-16

and have inflicted wrongs which crv for redreas
But have no fear of the future There may be
periods OF severe restraint, but every patriot
will rejoice that the wrongs of labor, sirce they
do exlsti the body-politic. are being ventilated
Mr.. William II. Fletcher. superintendent of
the New York Produce Exchange-No serious
danger TO the community at large is to be aunre-
hended from the present phases of the labor
movement. The ultimate resnlt of the agita-
ton will not necessarily prove injurious TO the
working classes, provided the strikers remain
peaeeable and quiet and do not resort to acts Of
violence. In the event of success the strikes
will of course, be highly beneficial to the work.
ingmen and their chances are better than
hitherto because they are better and more gen.
orally organized than ever before The effect
of the existing troubles on the business Of
1886 will vary with the different branches or
trade and industry We for example, do moi
feel the strikes at all, while the great body OF
manufacturers will for the time being be seri-
ously crippled by them. These troubles, how
ever. decrease, and peace and harmony
return to restore business and industry TO their
accustomed activity and vigor.
Mayor Whitney, of Brooklyn-The labor
troubles have caused great damage to business,
and have put off many public works and great
enterprises which would have benefited the
workingman We don't need any bigger stand
ing army public sentiment is safeguard
Socialists and Anarchists must be roughly dealt
with If they don't behave themselves. They are
like the little boy who steals our apples Ii
tufts of grass won't bring them down, harsher
measures must be adopted
Collector Hedden, OF the New York custom
house, think that the results of the labor dem
onstration are rather opening the eyes Of the
workingmen. They can see now that they are
cutting their own threats in some of the strikes
they are making Business has been injured
immensely, we know, but we don't come in con-
tact with the effects to any very great extent
No influx of foreign goods has come yet, but
suppose one would very soon come il
the cost of production is greatly in
creased. No, we don't need any mora
standing army; it would do harm. As
to Anarchists and men OF all kinds who do vio
lence, they must be put down, and the working
man who tries to intimidate must also under
stand that when he strikes he exhausts his
rights. He must not attempt to prevent other
men from working in his place Everybody
wants to elevate the laborng man, but those
who make the biggest noise about his rights ara
his worst enemies. Anarchy and riot hurt the
laborer more than anything else.
Henry HentZ, president of the Cotton Ex-
change-Yes, business has been seriously injured
very seriously injured, but | cannot tell pre-
cisely how much. How foolish tine men are to
strike when the profits on investment have been
getting smaller and smaller! Some of the strikes
have undoubtedly done good to the workmen,
as, for instance, that on the streetcars in
Brooklyn, in which they gained reduction
of hours, but, on the whole, the workmen
nave lost heavily, for not only are they out
earned all the while they strike, but
they have in many cases lost their situations
and in others had to 30 back to work at the old
rate of wages Besides that, they have increased
the price of living. Meat, for instance, is 2 or
cents dearer per pound than it when the
strikes began. At one time it did look as if the
troubles were a serious danger to the Nations
peace. but that period has passed over. The
fighting on Third avenue, for instance, between
the street-railway rioters and the police was
,n1 nriN 46av. %h< Ia VIZ
newspapers minipized the affair. A good many
men who were dubbed have since died, so have
been told by official who ought to know. We
don't need bigger standing army. The police
backed up by the State militia, are able to take
care Of all rioters. This striking fever seems to
be in the air, and all foreigners are catching it
My butcher tells me that his man, who has Just
been in the country two months, has gone on
strike.
Austin Corbin, President of the Long Island
railroad-My men have been pretty easy to get
along with / have tried to do what is right with
them. The strikes have killed the spring trade
and injured business confidence very much. and
the strikers are the men who have suffered and
will suffer by it No. we don't need a bigger
standing army the violent men ignorant
foreigners, and our police and militia take
care of them Anarchists should be taken at their
words and treated as enemies of law and order
This country is free enough for all good men, and
ali the bad men who can't let their neighbors
live in peace should be put in the peEitentiary
When they go to war with society, society should
give them all the war they want
The Rev. T. De Witt Talmage--T am going to
deliver a series of lectures on these labor ques-
tions and / have been watching the agitation
with deep interest and anxiety. have faith in
the good sense and justice of the English speak
ing workmen and | think, on the whole, they
have behaved splendidly during the troubles
As for the Anarchists, they are wild beasts on
whom reason is lost. and force is the only means
of checking wild beasts. / hope ultimate good
for the workman will come out of all this
trouble, and l think it will. The unions have
great power. and if it is properly used can un.
doubtedly advance the interests of wage-earners