Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-04-28
STRIKES AND BOYCOTTs
PITTsEURG, April 90, 1886

PITTsBURG, April %, 1886.
70 Gorcrnor Curtin, Chairman oi Mc Special
Labor Committee:
SIR: AS 81 citizen Of your State, and an old
| acquaintance, address you this open letter:
and in view OF the boycott, l am sorry
cannot give you my name. But my name
could add little 10 the merit or demerit OF
what shall say.
In one column of the morning paper yes
terday see Mr.. Powdery reported as test-
flying before your committee, THAT the prin-
ciple upon which his organization is founded
is that Of bringing capital and labor into
closer relations" And in another column
of the same paper read. Moving Of trains
at Chicago forcibly resisted perishable
fieghts,.. meats, etc., of great value destroy
ed, and the sentinels of the militia at East
St. Louis made targets Of by strikers" Are
these the closer relations into which Mr.. P.
and his order are bringing capital and labor?
Governor, your committee will have 10 go
deeper than the surface, and find out the
root of this evil. The general public is the
sufferer, and getting tired Of this thing. No
withdrawing report. losing over the labor
hobbies of Mr.. p. and his interested coadiu.
tors, will satisfy the present need. One
class cannot be allowed 10 trampe upon tho
rights and interests of all other classes after
this fashion, or cripple the industry and
prosperity of the country in this way. The
well-being of so, 900 of peonle ought not
to be subjected to the arbitrary and unli-
censed will of less than 100000 Labor
organization is confined to the wage. work
ing class, which does not exceed five mil
lons according to statistics, while the whole
population equals fifty-fve millions. This
live millions of wage-workers comprises
male and female, and those working on sal
aries-professional and others and as but a
small portion Of it belongs to organized labor
- maintaining this NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. not
million all told Mr.. 2. only claims half
million for his order) it wont do to allow
this one million or halfa million to domi-
neer oyer all the rest Of the inhabitants.
Mr.. L. relates individual instances Of
wronged employees. He gives them ouly
rs heresay, but no doubt he will be able to !
find plenty of Knights TO testify to personal
knowledge OF grievances in abundance.
But suppose all these individual instances
TO be true, what then is the remedy? Is it
not by leaving The individuals thus wronged
to their respective remedies under the laws
of the land, where the rights of the parties
can he properly heard and adjudicated?
Or must the business and industry of the
country he suspended, and the general pub.
&c or whole SECTIONS oi the country, be pun
ishea to V'nlicate The grievances of the in
divIduals in question?
Judging Of the suggestions TO him by some |
OF your cnnmi:tee. seeming TO coach him in
bis narration OF grievances and Justify his
course, IL would appear that he and his or.
der are opposed I" strikes and bnycotts.
Why do you not ask him then why strikes
and l"ycots and labor troubles have in.
ere ADD Al! along in direct ta,io with The in
crease OF labor unions-h his own in particu.