Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-30
THE LIGHT DREAMING,

The great Reading strike will go down
in history as ore of the most stupendous
contests between lsbor and capital ever
witnessed in this country. No matter who
is in the right, or who is in the wrong, or
how the mstter is settled eventually, one
thing certain that the protection heresy
is receiving its sentence by the people,
aud its doom can not lcng be delayed.
The defeat ct Mr.. Randall In Pennsylvania
meant much, but the attitude OF the labor
irg masses Of Pennsylvania means much
more. These men have worshiped the
golden calf long and idolatrously. They
listened to the siren songs of the tariff
barons, and voted like sheep for their
own enslavement. Happily for all the
light is breaking, and the day will soon
be here The lsooring men are be-
ginning to question the sincerity OF
those 'trlends of labor'' in this
particular, after finding them enemies
to labor in sill others. They are
studying the question, and are
discovering the truth and will soon re-
nounce allegiance to their idol. In IN in.
terylew with correspondent of the New
York Herald one Of the most prominent
members of the Knights of Labor reasons
thus: "The high tariff on coal is the
thing that enables Mr.. Corbin to use such
defiant language. Do you suppose that
If coal could be shipped duty free to east.
ern manufacturing towns and cities from
Nova Scotia thet the Reading road would
dare refuse to srbitrate with lie or listen
to cur grievances? Why, had to pay al
| the rate of Sc % 6 ton for half ton oil
coal right here IN Reading. Would that
condition Of things be possible If it were
not for the tariff that is protecting the
Reading monopoly from outside competi,
ton, while it endeayors to starve the
miners into slavery; for that is what the
abolition of the Knights Of Labor means
This thing is getting to be as cles,
as sunlight to US. II there were nc
duty on coal, inside Of week
thousands OF tons would be
landed in New York, Phila-
delpbia and Boston ct fair prices. The
manufacturer of the eastern states would
not be crippled while the STRIKE lasted.
The Reading Company would not dare to
close its collieries, for the market would
be supplied from without" One year
sgo the representative of labor who
| would make this admission would be
looked upon by his colaborers as traitor.
| Now he is locked upon as Moses lead
ing the children Of toll out Of conflict
and misery. Following up his line OF
reasoning, he continues: Snow, what
would that condition of things mean?
Simply this: The miners are not fools,
and will not go on strike, which always
means direct less and suffering to them,
without q good cause. On the other
hand, the Reading Company-all the other
coal compsnies-would gladly part with
sufficient of their profits 10 insure COM
fort and good living for their men. Thus
the men would be loyal and satisfied, and
at the same time the companies would not
be constantly plunged into disastrous con-
fiicts with their employees, but in case a
difference arose the companies would be
just as eager as the men to settle it,
They would not be in q position to send
out such Czar-likel lmanifestoes as Mr..
Corbin's answer to the present STRIKE"
It is gratifying to see that laooring men
are awakening to the fact that instead OF
being benefited By the tariff they are