New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-02
LABOR EESLAYED.

Most Of the strikers, no doubt, mean to be
law-abiding citizens. When violence is done
they neither take part nor intend 30 encourage.
Yet they do encourage, II they continue to sup
port and obey any organization which tolerates
violence by any of its members for the pur-
pose of securing its success. To many Of these
men IL seems a justification, or at least an ex-
cuse, that they are contending for the cause Of
labor. Injury to individuals they regret only
as a soldier in patriotic warfare regrets the
suffering Of the enemy he shoots. But a strike
is not lawful warfare, and strike that needs
violence or wrongdoing to succeed is not a
patriotic, Just or honorable cause. 1t may be
granted that these men want to do what IS
right. Then they viii listen with patience
while THE TRIBUNE shows that their cause is
not the cause Of labor-that they arc, in fact,
the enemies Of labor.
Not one of these strikers desires TO remain
through all his life in his present occupation
with its exposure, it's long hours, its Scanty
pay. Every one hopes TO find something better
In time That is the very life Of American
free labor, that it has open doors for all who
want TO rise, chains no man to one unvarying
round of service forever, kindles hope in all,
offers to all the power to change at will TO any
more desirable avocation for which he may be
or may become ft. Any man, any organiza-
ton or system, which would rob American
workers Of that opportunity and freedom
would rob them of hope and Of the highest slim
illus to honorable endeavor; would degrade
their labor to that Of the serf or slave would
take from the worker what is of more value
than all the wages he can earn.
The GARDINER binds himself with others to
defend his place for himself as long as he wants
it, by excluding all of less desirable occupation
who want to rise, or all unemployed who want
to work. That Is not his object, he will say. Yet
it is exactly that. He organizes with Others
for the express purpose of preventing those
who arc not so organized from obtaining his
place His strike is organized solely because
he believes that thousands acting together can
not be replaced by others, as unorganized in
dyiduals one by one might be-. Threats. in
timidation, the scorn and censure of organized
thousands, are employed in every strike TO
deter other individuals from rising to places
they desire In almost every strike, when fear
fails, force and violence and crime are called
in, all for no other purpose than to shut out
those who wish to rise.
II the car-driver has any right TO do this,
others have the same right. They can equally
organize to shut him out of every higher or
more desirable employment. II he uses threats
and scorn ard savage censure, so can they
when he wants any place better than the one
he now has. II he supports strike in which
his organized association smashes the heads
and mangles the forms Of Others his head also
can be smashed with equal reason and his form
by adherents Of other organizations, il
ever he tries to get better work than he now
has. Success in a strike means for all below
him tyranny or starvation; It would mean
tyranny or starvation for him. If eyer he seeks