The midland journal., 1890-08-29

The conflict between corporations and the
to year, and the individual is joining his
fellow individuals till the aggregated force
of the citizen combination against corporate
power increases to colossal strength. Strikes
of the employees of great railroad corpora.
tions involve or theaten losses second only
to the waste of war, and are 20 far reaching
in their consequences as TO inflict injury on
persons and business far remote from the
scene of immediate conflict. When the loss
of wages, the throwing out of work of
thousands of men whose families must suf-
fer for an indefinite period Is al l)ne consid-
cred the evil is sufficient 10 call for radical
remedy. And if we add to this the loss to
the corporation the case is made still more
serious, but beyond all this the far reaching
consequences which touch a whole commu-
nifty inAicting loss on every line of business,
OBTAINING travel, adding TO personal ex-
pense as we'll as entailing serious annoyance
and inconvenience to persons, the subject
nature which will eventually have to be
taken in hand by the public through their
government.
The arrogance which corporate power is
manifesting in an increasing ratio to the
magnitude of its expansion is such as can
not much longer be brooked by the citizens
ofa free country The present strike of
the knights of Labor on the New York
Central railroad and which threatens to
extend TO the whole Vanderbilt system, has
brought conspcuously into public view the
arrogant, domineering spirit engendered in
individuals who are invested with almost
despotIc authority by these large corpora
tions. Mr.. Webb, first Vice President of
the New York Central, replies to the re-
quests Of the officers of the Knights of Labor
asking why their members were discharged :,
in the naughty tones of an autocrat, that
the company will act as it pleases in such
matters at It's own sweet will and that these
officers are prepared 10 spend $4,000, 900 to
pnt down the working mems organization
which presumes to oppose this corporations
uncurbed will. 1t is also becoming the
fashion with these large railroad corpora
tions to employ hired MALTA known as
Pinkerton's men, who use Springfield rifles
in most reckless manner.
The leader OF the knights of Labor, T.
V. Powderly, appeals to all labor organiza-
tions and the public at large 10 aid the
Knights in their struggle against unbrdled
and steadily increasing arrogant corporate
power. This appeal may not secure the full
measure of help asked for, but future similar
appeals will, as the evidence is very clear
that labor organizations are daily drawing
near to each other which indicates general
fraternizing. The end which these moye-
ments points inevitably to is complete pub
lie or government control of all natural
monopolies, which include railroads, tele-
graph, telephone and similar branches
which owe their entire existence to the gen.
elal public. No such franchises should be
given to corporations but should be held
by the public through their organized goy-
ernment. The values created by the whole
people should be used to pay the expenses
of government, in place OF as under present
conditions, going into the pockets of indi-
yiduals. The citizen should erjoy unmo-
Tested the fruits of his own labor and the
unearned increment of the community be
taken for the use of the community.