The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-04-08
AURORA, April I'd, 1886.

Mr.. Editor;
Whether to seek for the use of much
or little of your space, feel uncertain.
The subject is old as the human race.
The world could not contain the books
written on it, and the simplest ques-
ton arising in the contention has yet
to be settled, "How are strikes to be
arbitrated? ?" "What is a strike ?"
.' Who is to arbitrate ?"
"Strike " is only new name for an
old thing. The Israelites "struck ,
some years since in Egypt, damaged
their employers what they could. and
under supposed Divine guidance toted
off their plunder and captured anoth-
er country. The Plebians of Rome,
under various leaders, at different
times rebelled against landlords. di
vided up estates, and played havoc
with the wealthy generally. They
becsme the allies of the Cloths and
Vaadals finally. Hence modern Italy.
The French about hundred years
ago struck. First the lower orders
against the higher, then vice versa
bloody time-until exhausted, Napo-
leon became an acknowledged neces-
sity.
More lately, in our country, the ne
groes of the South were considered by
the laborers of the North entitled to a
strike )" and since they 0he negroes)
were supposed not to understand the
subject, the North willingly lent its
sympathy and interference to secure
them wages and vote. The negroes
welcomed their Northern friends, and
blocked one kind of monopoly. The
arbitration took the name of rebellion
| and civil war. But names are decep-
| tive. It was "strike ITO compel
the landlords of the South to pay wa
ges to the laborer, and to share in all
things equally with him. This done,
| the next thing was to strike" at
home against those who had grown
rich out of the plunder of the South.
and the exactions and franchises dis
tributed to favorites by government
let loose in corruption and absolutism.
Day before yesterday large metro
politan daily was full of the wonder
full news, that the great problem of
the world was finally settled. Jay
Gould, the representative of wealth,
and Powderly, the Grand Master
Workman-theC Caius Gracious of to-
day-it was said, had ivented "arbi-
traitor" as a settler; and henceforth
in all matters universal peace would
convert swords into plow-points and
Columbiads into fence posts.
Today things are in an eclipse
Who shall be the arbitrators 2" II
seemed to have been forgotten that the
| tickle Romans chose men to do this
same thing, and when they had made
their solemn choice, soon found occa'
sion to assassinate the agents they had
chosen. 1t was something SO in France
lis so in Ireland-and will be so hore
It is unavoidable.
Suppose Gould and Powderly do
arbitrate today the amount of ten OIL
fifteen cents difference in wages, and
it is allowed. Soon as this is gained
the laborer drinks more beer, and
thinks he needs it, wants better clothes
to wear in his increased allowance ol
time, and and more education for his
children. He feels more oppressed
than before, and he sees his employer
still gaining rapidly in wealth. He
will strike again, of course, and every
class of strikers will unite with the
same complaint and for the same pur
pose, and 80 on, ad in nfinitum-and af
ter capital is prostrated, wasted, ami
hilated, or equally distributed, ther
what? Who then shall say how much
higher wages the engineer shall hav,
than the fireman? ? Who shall settl,
the worth of days labor faithfully
by brakeman and conductor? A
between the miners in our subterra
mean catacombs and the clerks ant
agents above ground, how shall tn
value of their services be rated Wht
{ shall determine in iron mills, glass
works, cotton and woolen factories
shoe shops, clothing shops, car shops
piano shops. Sc, the relative toll, re
sponsibility, danger and exposure o
the various classes of employees, ant
adjust the true earnings of each salts
factorily and forever?
u Matters arbitrated today, or thi
year, under certain leaders, cannot fai
to need arbitrating again under tn,
| varying circumstances of another yea
, and another set of leaders. They viii
D come, needed or not-and arbitrator