Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-09-11
THE CAMERA OBSCURA.
WHAT IT'S FOCUS CATCHES IN THE
FIELD OF LABOR REFORM.


lessons That May Be Learned from the
CIoakmakers' Strike-An Interesting
Prophecy of IN Eminent Scientist-Dr.
Abbott's Great "what-Is-It."
The history of labor's struggles in this
country does not show a parallel to the
New York cloakmakers' strike. Without
detracting in any degree from the hero
Ism of men who have contended in other
struggles for their rights, those who
know the details of this latest battle do
not hesitate to say that the suffering,
self restraint and heroic devotion to
principle displayed by the cloakmakers
were beyond comparison. Out of over
5000 who were locked out or struck on
June II only about fifty weakened in
allegiance to the union, and they
deserted on the first day, before the
real test began. All the others re-
manned firm to the end, some of
them with starvation staring them IN
the face. Thousands sold or pawned
everything they had that could be turned
into money with which to buy bread,
and when the fight was ended found
themselves with hardly sufficient cloth
ing to cover their backs. and with their
homes almost bare of furniture. Orna-
ments and keepsakes went to buy dry
bread with which to keep life In the
gallant army. The aid which came from
the outside was insignificant, notwith-
standing the sympathy that was sup
posed, from the attitude of the news
papers, to exist in the community.
The officers Of the Cloakmakers' union
are deserving Of special praise for the
able manner In which they conducted
affairs; but without the courage and de-
votion that characterized the rank and
file they would have been powerless. In
the conferences between the officials OF
the union and the manufacturers COM
mittee the former displayed such good
common sense and knowledge Of bust
ness rules as convinced those who read
the proceedings from day to day that
they were the equals, if not the supe-
riors, of the captains of industry" A
few such victories as this one and the
talk that the laboring people are unable
to conduct their own affairs will forever
cease. But want to repeat, for the
benefit of the rank and file of other labor
organizations, that all the wise leaders
In the universe could not have won the
cloaknakers' fight without they were
supported by the confidence and courage
of the body of strikers.
There is another lesson i'll the result
of this strike which many union men
may consider with profit: The cloak
makers of New York are almost entirely
Jews, foreigners" Workingnen who
were fortunate enough to be born in
the United States not infrequently rail
ut foreigners and lay at their door many
of the defeats labor has sustained. This
victory should teach that q man, though
he be n Pole, an Italian or .iun, is ga
man for a. that" and If treated as such
by his associates will fight just as hard
against injustice as a full blooded native.
| The few men not foreigners in the Cloak.
makers union had the good sense to
show all the time that they recognized
this fact, and the slurs and insinuatiOns
engendered by race prejudice which
have so often created discord were con
spicuous by their absence. Put none
but Americans ON guard" will not do as
u war cry i'll labor's fight for its rights
Capitalism is International; it knows nc
country, no creed, no God. Labor must
adopt the first two planlzs of that plat
form if it would win. 1.-The world is
my country, to do good my religion"
! In The Arena Professor Joseph ROdes
Buchanan writes about 1.-The Coming
Cataclysm of America and Europe,
which he places at nineteen years from
the present time, and which ''in its
magnitude and horror will surpass any
thing Of which authentic history has
preserved a record" The professors pa
per is prophecy containing conclusions
| demonstrated by the sciences which he
has ''esoterically cultivated" and the
manner in which he goes into details
convinces the reader that whatev.
er there may be in the prophecy the
prophet believes in himself. Professor
Buchanan says that there will be civil
war in the United States, brought on by
labor, race and church troubles, but
chiefly the former, and that the aristoc-
racy and money power will be over,
thrown, and real democracy establish
cd on something like the lines laid down
by Nationahsm.
Thousands are today impressed with
the approaching dangers. The facts
that should alarm them are conspicuous.
The industrial classes in both city and
country are profoundly discontinued.
The western farmers are not alone in
their suffering. The decline in New
York has been 30 great that State AS
SCISSOR Wood, In 1889, expressed the opin-
ion that in a few decades there will be
none but tenant farmers In this state.
While the farmers are going down, and