The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-09-18
BLACKLEGS NOT POPULAR IN LONDON
The Employers Retain Them Only to
Keep Up Appearances.
The Strike Gives Blow to the Lals-
sez FaIre Policy.
Pope Leo's Probable Successor and
His Recent EncycIIcal.

LONDON, September 1.-THE dissatisfac-
tion over the retention of ''blacklegs" or
rats" by the dock companies is not thought
likely to have any serious consequences. The
directors Of the companies have no special
love for the men who took the strikers
places. especially as they were not sufficient
ly numerous to enable the managers to win
the day. The companies, however, are
obliged to make show Of protecting these
men, and could hardly be expected to throw
them out on the first day that work was be-
gun under the new agreement. 1t is under
stood that at today's conference of the med.
iators tacit understanding was arrived at
by which the 'blacklegs" will soon lind
their occupation gone, without any special
reason being given therefor. Work win be
scarce for them, though plenty for the old
men, and they will gradually be dropped
from the pay rolls. On the other hand, the
strike leaders agree to do all they can to pre-
vent the regular men from assaulting or in
any way interfering with the new men so
long as the retention Of the latter Is deemed
absolutely necessary. This is not likely to
be very long, as the "blacklegs" are mostly
so frightened by the threats of the regulars
that many of them are already clamoring to
be sent back to the cities whence they were
brought here. The fortunate termination
Of the strike continues to be leading theme
for comment in the press, and the lesson
drawn from recent events seems to be. In
the great majority of cases. that a vast
change has been wrought In public opinion
during the past few years in regard to the
proper relations of society to the Individual.
Some time ago the doctrine of laissez faire
had full swing in the seuse Of letting all
institutions concerning property alone, no
matter how much suffering might be caused
| mo
society was forced to bear the burden of at
least partial alleviation of this suffering
through the poor laws. Curiously enough,
as pointed out by a leading journal, Cardinal
Manning was one Of the first to point out
the absurdity of this attitude, and to suggest
that it might be a better policy for
society to shift some of this burden
upon classes of property which had specially
benefited by certain changes made in the So
cial and industrial system of century or
lar mind, and the recent strike finally gave
the Cardinal an opportunity of proposing an
entering wedge toward its realization. This
is shown by the general talk now prevalent
in favor offthe governments taking over the
dock property In case there is any more
trouble between the dock companies and the
men. The fear of such c0nsummation un-
doubtedly had much to do with the compara-
tive good grace with which the companies
consented to the compromise settlement.
When the striking w0rkmen were about to
resume work at the Albert dock to-day, they
found number of ''blacklegs" employed on
the dock. The strikers made an attack on
the "blacklegs" and chased them from shed
to shed. Several Of the ''blacklegs" received
injuries, which necessitated their removal to
the hospital. The men who made the assault
were discharged. The Directors of the Dock
Companies threaten a general lockout il the
men do not live up to the terms Of the agree.
ment their representatives have signed.
Nearly 5000 of the Surrey dockmen went
back quietly TO work yesterday.
AT conference the representatives of the
Surry docks agreed to concede all the mems
demands subject to the approval of the
dock directors.