St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-11
THE STRIKE.

The strike on the VANDERBILT line
is more serious matter than appears
on the surface. The VANDKRBILTS may
be able to fill the places of the strikers,
as they claim they will do. but it will
have to be done by drawing on other
railroads for men. Still, this is season
of the year when railroad business is
comparatively dull, and the other roads
may he able to spare their quota of en-
ployes necessary to operate the VAN
DERBELT system. 1t is also probable
that the strikers will be starved out, and
will eventually be compelled to raise
the strike. Yet in the end it will be a
costly victory for the VANDERBILTs.
1t is not worth while to stop and dis
cuSs the unreaSonableneSs of the strike.
The fact is it did occur, and every wheel
Oh the VANDERBILT line was locked
without moments warning to the COM
pany, and without any opportunity to
prepare for what was to come.
1t is this fact which gives seriousness
to the situation. The settlement of diff
ferenceS between labor and capital
seems to be no nearer an accomplish
ment than it was ten years ago. The
successive victories won by the corpO-
rations over the labor unions have had
no discouraging effect on the latter.
The idea that the labor organizations
could be whipped into submission is re-
futed by this very strike. They are as
powerful to-day as they were in the
great strike of 1877, and the mandate of
the labor leaders is obeyed with more
promptness now than then.
When and where is this thing to end?
That is the serious question suggested
by the present strike. The railroad
corporations were just feeling comfort
able over the reflection that the back
bone of the labor organizations had been
broken in their unsuccessful struggle
against the Burlington company, and
that it would be long time, if ever.
before railroad employees would attempt
another strike. And yet to-day the
VANDERBILTS have more serious row
OH their hands than the Burlington
folks had
1t is possible that the WANDER
bits will come out the victors, but
that will not settle the dispute between
the corporation and its employees. 1t
looks now as if the labor organizations
are here to stay, and If they never win
victory they will keep up the struggle
indefinitely. Men who are not discour-
aged by defeat cannot be subjugated.
More than that. the prevalent discon-
tent among the agricultural classes is
calculated to encourage the labor unions
to hold their ground at all cost. The
expectation of reinforcements is always
encouraging to an array that is cOntiHu-
ally getting the worst of it.
The present strike seems to have been
lnaugurated by the labor leaders just to
show the corporations that the labo I
I cause is not lifeless. And it is a very
striking exhibition of its vitality When
in one hours time, the wealthiest and
most powerful railway system on the
continent can be brought to complete
standstill.
Besides all this. there is a general
feeling of unrest and diSquietude
throughout the country. One cal
paper. or even new book, but they find
some one discussing the probabilities OF
| a coming social revolution. Whatever
may be the cause or causes for it, the
fact remains that the people of this gen.
Grafton are anticipating stirring events
| in the near future. There is feeling
| abroad that there is soon TO be read
| iustment Of labor conditions and social
| affairs which will eliminate plutocraey
and elevate the masses; and until this
| feeling subsidies it is useless for the
corporations to think of crushing out
the labor organizations. 1t is always
! dangerous to let force take the place o!
reason and argument, and the danger of
such policy was never more appar-
ent than now.