The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-10
A GREAT DANGER.

| There are mutterlngS snd mDllngS
in the air, of another big contest
between organized labor and capital.
Many months ago the engineers on the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad
struck against a peculiar rating or
grading system adopted by the COM
pany. The plan had been in operation
for long time, and the men had
worked under it, but they suddenly
concluded that it was not just. or at
least, was not as they would have it,
and they struck. They went out On
short notice, and left the company in q
sad plight. However, the latter con-
Guided that it would manage
its own affairs in its own
way, and not according to
the notions of its hired men. No pro-
test was made against the strike, the
company recognizing the right of the
men to quit work if they wanted to
The %" managers advertised for new
men, and in the course of few weeks
had their trains running as usual. But
it is said that the strike cost the road
directly and indirectly, about 81 OOO ,0CO.
1t has probably cost the strikers and
their friends one-third of that sum.
The outcome, expensive as the tx
perie1ce was, was complete victory
for the railroad and an ignominious de-
tbo fril for OF
company is concerned, it has established
its independence, and made organized
labor understand that while it has
rights and powers, capital also
has rights and is not without
power. Latterly the strikers have
shown that they fell keenly their
defeat. Instead of accepting the situa-
ton philosophically and heroicaIly, and
while conceding themselves beaten,
and manfully resolving to make 20 moro
such plumbers, they are displaying
malice, and it is feared some of them,
in their desperation, have been guilty
of unlawful acts, as the destruction of
the company's property, assaulting the
non-union employees, etc. However,
as to the latter suggestion the evidence
is yet to be brought out.
1t is now intimated that movement
is on foot looking to the consolidation
of the various unions of railroad en-
ployees-the engineers, the brakemen.
the switchmen, etc., for the purpose
of making big fight against
the railroads, or at least against such of
them as are disposed to be independent
in the management of their own affairs
and conducting their business in their
own way. Some preliminary meetings
of the representatives of the various
brotherhoods have been held, and the
first steps taken towards the proposed
mammoth consolidation. If the move
ment shall assume definite shape and
become aggressive, the public may we'll
contemplate the coming struggle with
alarm and dread. The battle will
be- the greatest ever fought in
the country between capital ard
its employees. The railway employees
number several hundred thousand, and
the capital directly employed in the
Hallway industry runs into the hun
dreds of million, while the entire b ISL
ness of the country is directly or indi-
rectly connected with the railways. A
general strike-a lookup of the rail
roads for single day, would cause
commercial paralysis and produce in
calculable injury, and protracted
strike extending over the country
would simply be ruineus to three
fourths the commercial industries in
the land. AS Ito the outcome of the
battle, if a battle it must be, there
can be but one opinion. The
money must win, cost what 1T
may. Capital cannot submit to the die
tation of others than its owners. If it
did so Submit there would soon be no
capital. The owner will control and
manage that which belongs TO him, and
his employees must yield or cease to
work for him.
For the sake of the railway employees
and those dependent on them for sup
port, we hope they will not proceed
with this proposed union of forces, for
to do 30 will mean disaster and suffer
ing, crime and great loss to the men,
whatever it may mean to the railways
and capitalists. We hope the struggle
will not have to come. for severe as it
will be while in progress, and injurious
to the business of the country as it can
not fail to be, the greatest suffering will
fall upon those who can least afford to
endure the consequences of the fight.
If the engineers and brakemen and
others are wise they will avoid tho
danger into which some of their num-
Der are evidently trying to rush them.