The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-04-16
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
No. II.

xdulZdtLOIl, do SuCll, I'll W I6COSUlES IL
In any manner. Human nature and
personal interest resent dictation, and
the officials refuse to be dictated as 10
whom they shall or shall not employ,
which is highly proper. What cDnfi-
denc0 can they repOse in those who
have been active in actual warfare
against those who have heretofore
given them employment?
No one can deny the rights of the
Knights to effect reforms and changes
and increase Of wages. which they can
bring about by peaceable means and
by the strength of their organization.
It is their priyilege-it is the privi-
lege of all American citizens, which
should be neither curtailed nor abused,
and we must not be understood as be-
ing hostile to any organization of the
kind, but only to the abuses. But
there seem to be some very arbitrary
features which can order strikes'cin.
various parts of the country, and on
various pretexts, and of wOrkmen who
have no grievance, but are merely
adopting the quarrels of others per-
haps of the vagabonds of their order
and greatly to their detriment. We
understand the arguments made use
of in such cases, but fail to see their
propriety. Instances are related in the
late strikes iii which men have actual
ly been known to cry because of an
imperative order to stop work while
their families were suffering for the
comforts and necessaries of life per-
haps forced to join the order against
their will, or be denounced as a !" scab,"
or by some other unsavory epithet, or
at the risk of being driven from their
situation by the persecution of their
fellew-workmen.
The executive board, or committee,
haze iaaugatrGted nlO0eme,1t ,oltich
they are unable to controz-h0oe opened
a food-gGte aobich they cannot close
and although the more conservative
may regret the recent riots and
bloodshed the public will charge
the responsibility where they believe
it to belong. The final outcome may
not have been anticipated at the COM
mencemenr, but under no circum-
stances which have yet arisen can they
be justified in resort to arms. 1t
was not necessary, even for self-de-
fence, for, had they not been the ag-
gressors, no armed police nor military
would have been called into requisition.
We regret that the order, which con-
talns many worthy citizens and many
cOmmendable features, should have so
disgraced itself, and forfeited public
sympathy and esteem by the late acts
of violence. There can be no plea that
it was the uncomfortable action of the
roughs who will creep into the order.
The entire order will be held account
able by the public, and can only purge
itself by the prompt expulsion of those
who are guilty Of such acts.
1t is arbitrary in the extreme to
demand that corporations shall give
preference to the members of their
order. Unworthy men will seek the
protection of the order and demand
that their grievances --or rather qat09reLS
be adopted, when the proper treat
ment would be to Kick them ostt. We
have said that good aCorkmea were in
demand, and it is not probable that the
railroad companies will discharge their
best wOrkmen without cause, even at
the demand of the knights. Ii it be-
comes necessary to reduce their work
ing force, the least valuable are weed
ed out, as far as practicable, and such,
usually, utter the loudest complaints.
1t has beenlstated that the railroad
companies will bring suits against the
rioters for damage to property, and
obstruction to business. The larger
share of the rioters have no pecuniary
responsibility and judgements against
them would be of no value, and col
lectable judgements recovered against
others would fall far short Of adequate
compensation for losses incurred. A
victory in the courts might serve as a
prestige for the future, and punish
ment of the rioters an example of
which should be made, but it could not
restore the lives or the property which
has been sacrificed.
Let us reverse the case, and suppose
the officials had been guilty of trespass
on the property of the strikers. Would
they not only have been held to strict
accountability but held in execration
by the whole community? Justice is
rule which should operate on both
parties alike.
We believe the lGborer should geceice
a just compensation for his labor which
will enable him to live in a civilized
manner and enjoy civilized life-to
maintain his family in a respectable
/ MO sd nj, e..
upon the intelligence of the people de-
ponds the prosperity and perpetuity of
our institutions, and we have no sym.
pathy for the grasping and avaricious
employer who would crush out all the
enjoyments of life to his employees, in
order to increase his own gains. They
have rights which he is bound to re-
spect. nor should he be held response
BILE for ali the ills which they suffer.
tai and labor for they are mutually de-
pendent.
Socialists would teach division and
equality of property, but those who
have anything to divide would be the
last to put it in practice. 1t is a thing
which demagogues may preach in or
der to gain notoriety, or to catch pop
ular vote. Any intelligent person |
knows it would be impracticable. |
Were it possible to attempt the expert
ment, the INDECENT mendicant, once liz
possession of a few dollars, would i'm
agine himself a millionaire, and in
dulge for few days in riotous living
until he became as destitute rs the
prodigal son. and society would again
relapse into its former condition.