Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-09-27
THE COMING CONTEST.

strikers were beaten at every turn,
and their action will cost them heavily
But this defeat must not be intcrpre
ted as a lasting triumph for the rail
way company. The failure was due
20 two causes. There was, in the first
place, insufficient ground for a strike.
To be successful, strikers must have
the sympathy and support Of the pub
lie. This they did not have in the
masses, ready as they are to side with
the oppressed ,oiler, could not find
sufficient justification fer the going
out of the men in this case. The rea-
son for the collapse Of the strike is the
fact that the Knights Of Labor organi-
zation is weak. II is lacking in good
management, is torn by internal ds-
sentions and is nowhere powerful
enough to engage, with hope OF sue
cess, with rich and influential em-
ployer like the New York Central. It
was observed that other labor organi-
cations expressed sympathy for the
knights and wished them we'll No
other association gave any material
comfort or support. All stood aloof,
and there was belief that certain Of
the organizations desliked the knights
80 much that they rather rcjoiced in
the defeat OF Mr.. Powderly and. his
order. However this may be the
strike came to grief in short order, the
men gaining not single point.
But this defeat. overwhelming Ms il
has been, must not he interpreted as
such victory on the part of the rail-
way company as will procure for il
immunity from further contests, nor
must the triumph be looked upon as
one that will discourage the laboring
classes. We believe the country is
fast approaching the most vigorous,
the most desperate and most deter
mined conflict between capital and
labor that il has ever experienced
The other day the wires told Of a com
bination. among great employers to
resist strikes, the plan OF operation be-
ing for all members OF the combine"
10 support each other in the event Of n
strike. II a strike shall occur Mt one
establishment the other members OF
the association will close their works
until the strike has been declared off,
and one company will not employ men
who strike at another place. II is
probable that other great employing
concerns viii join this offensive and
defensive organization. II the move.
inent shall assume the gigantic pro.
portions contemplated the working
men will be forced into uniting them
selves, not as ut present in numerous
unions and protective associations,
hut In a grand federation embracing
the various trades and labor occupa-
tions, and moved and directed from
central board which can command In
Main aud California at the same time.
The combination OF capital will neces-
sairly compel an equally aggressive
and similarly protected federation of
labor; otherwise the employee classes
would be hopelessly at the mercy Of
employers, aud the workingmen would
ut once fall into slavery as oppIes-
rive as that which EXITS in some for
eign country. The Central strike un-
donbtedly put into the heads OF West
inghousc, the Pullman and other com
panies the idea OF forming the comb
nation referred 10 in the kilograms
from rittsburg last week, and that
strike should, il il has not, teach the
workingmen the folly OF trying to
combat the encroachments and OPP
pressions of capital without an organi-
cation that will control labor in all its
branches.
The contest is certainly coming
1t can not, or will not. be avoided. II
will be terrible in its objects, and both
employer and employee may vel!
tremble. II could be avoided and the
Trouble escaped, but neither party,
will recognize certain facts
and be governed 10y them Neither
will see that both are absolutely essen
Iial to each other. Neither will con-
rede the others full rights. Both are
Jealous. and each Is straining for the
,dyantage. Ii seems inevitable that
hey must test their strength. though
they would consider the matter in. !
they would know that no |
ontest OF strength can ever bring n /
inal determination. The adjustment {
4 the dispute which has gone on so Z
ong and is now approaching grand
nd desperate struggle must, in our
pinion, come through n plan OF arbi-
ration, not the arbitration agreed 7
pom by employer and employee, bat \
FILTRATION made compulsory by law Il
nd its DEGREES enforced by the power b
I the state, that power which is made
irong and invincible by the wealth of II
be employer aud the bone and sinew !;
the man who tolls for wages. Tho !