Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-17


deception. Surely it is at Gods altar thai
the true light may be found in these time,
Of perpleXity.
| The text su sgeStS that there is some
thing the matter and that there is a remedy
| for the trouble.
The symptoms in this case are the strikes
that have prevailed the mutteringS of a
deep-roOted discomfort and the resort to
intimidation, and in some instances 10 viO-
lence. In dealing with this case We find a
good deal of smOke, but comparatively
! little fire. | have no share in the belief
that our country is at all Threatened. Our
form of government is not on trial. Ii is
established. and with proper care We have
nothing TO fear from socialists or anarchists;
and certainly nothing from our millions Of
intelligent wOrkingmen. The Outburst of
anarchiSm which so many dreaded was con
fined in its extent TO a small area of our
first blow Of anarchism in this country will
be its last. believe it will.
BE reasSured on another point. Only a
small minority of the wOrkmen of this coun-
try have been on a strike The vast major
ity of our working people are prosperous
and contented. They are not getting rich.
but they are earning good livelihood and
ARE happier, healthier and wealthier than
thousands who are in business for them
selves"
There never has been anything like gen
eral uprising of labor against capital in this
country. Thousands of strikers feel that
their grievances are slight and should be
reasoned about and arbitrated upon. Thus
things are not 50 bad as they seem.
The masses of our wOrkmen have no
cause to complain, while many, on the other
hand, have real grievances. Some EN-
ployerS treat their men CONSIDERABLY, while
Others grind them down. Many labOrers
work more hours than they should. The
pay for some kinds OF labor is inadequate
to the labOrer's needs, and out of all pro
portion to the employers profit Many
want work. but cannot get it These
things form the foundation of the existing
labor troubles, but the essence Of all may
be thus expressed: There are too many
laborers for the amount of work TO be
working for insufficient wages"
Il submit TO you that II will be the ut
most folly for wOrkingmen TO seek redress
for these grievances in any course which
in,r,I,-aS ,;tI,ar O N,i,Iafinn nf law an iutar-
ference with the rights of Others or an
alienation of popular sympathy from any
cause whatever" WOrkingmen and all
may rest assured that lawlessneSS, even in
the redressing Of injuries, real or imagi-
nary, will net be tolerated in this country.
Public sentiment will not tolerate an in
fringement upon personal liberty, either,
and the vast majority Of the working men
ank Knights of Labor may be relied upon
to assist in putting down any who interfere
with our constitutional liberties.
Fifth, the people will never tolerate a
forcible interference with the commercial
interests of the country. The authorities
and the public will combine to maintain or
der and protect cOntented wOrkmen. Any
man has the right 10 refuse TO work, but he
has no right to compel Others TO do the
same by the use of violence or threats.
BOycOtting, while not illegal, is certainly
an interference with personal rights. There
can be no objection. TO a number Of per
sons bOycotting a firm, but when the e
parties compel others, under penalty of
being treated in the same way, to
to join them in their crusade, they not only
provoke criticism, but they inevitably pro
woke opposition and awaken resentment"
Strikes are not of much use in improving
the labor situation. In their logical sequence
they lead to the boycott and men on a
strike may do things which directly inter
fere with the liberties of Others. To be
effectual the strike must embrace large
numbers, and in such cases the temptation
is strong TO induce others to join them. If
the places of the strikers are taken by other
wOrkmen often a course of intimidation
is undertaken. This brings upon the
strikers the bad opinion of the
&.
of obtaining the ends they seek. Strikes
are not in themselves illegal, but they tend
to produce acts which are illegal: are not,
therefore, safe weapons TO employ. The
raise in wages sometimes secured by0
strike usually does not long continue.
History shows that that raise is nearly
always withdrawn as soon As a slack time
comes, OF as soon as the places Of the
strikers are gradually filled by others.
Strikes, therefore, almost always injure
the cause which they are intended TO help.
DIR. Tuckley then said that these labor
troubles could and would be settled. That
the result would be realized under the flag
of the Republic and the white flag of peace
and purity-the banner of the gospel. He
then continued:
Let capital and labor be brought to see
that their interests are Identical. 1t is folly
to imagine that they are enemies. They are
twin-brothers and each is indispensable to
the other. IL the workman is under Obliga-
ton TO avoid doing anything TO embitter the
master, so, on the other hand, and more so,
he being the stronger of the two, must the
employer avoid any course which
might tend to antagOnize and
embitter the wOrkmen. 1t is
''Self-evdent that lock-OutS are Just a.
mpOlitic as strikes and have al
equal tendency with strikes to infringe
upon the liberty of free American citizens. "
plead for fOrbearance between these
classes. Capital ought to be looked to fol
an example in this matter, for unless the
In ister takes the lead in forbearance he
cannot complain if his employees do moi
show much toward him