Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-21

The New York Central Strike.
The great strike on the New York |
Central Railroad, which startled the cor
poration of that name as well as the
industrial world, is about drawing to
close, leaving thousands of its employees
without work. In District Assembly,
No. 246, Knights of Labor, the men had
an almost perfect organization, having
nearly every employee, from switchman
to engineer, under its banner. 1t was,
in fact, counterpart of the organization
which existed in this region short
time ago. A few impulsive leaders failed
to secure redress Immediately for wrongs.
real or fancied we do not know, from
which they claimed to suffer, and tie
up was ordered. True to his organiza-
tion's call every man deserted his post
of duty on the line and the business of
that road was completely paralyzed.
Their strength was surprise to every
one. The company had no idea their
power was so great. Here was an i'm
mense railroad system, with the Wander
bilts, Webbs, Depews and their millions
behind it, unable to move wheel. Or
ganized labor was supreme for the time
being. In situation like this people
may wonder why the employees did not
win. They not only lost their strike,
but from the time they ceased work the
company's officials treated them with
the utmost Indifference, having full con-
fidence in their ability to fill their posi-
tions with men from the army of unem-
ployed. Neither was this confidence
misplaced.
When thousands of men are looking
for work and are driven almost desperate
by the sight of hungry wives and child
rem, capital in struggle with labor al
ways holds the winning hand in the end.
That was the condition of affairs in New
York and the territory covered by the
Central road, and is the explanation of
the sudden collapse of the great strike.
Labor leaders are in New York by the
score at present, threatening many dire
things, but as far as the corporation is
concerned the strike is certainly thing
of the past. Invent the way of thousands
of its predecessors, benefitting no one
but the organized force of ruffians anc
thugs known as Pinkerton's Detective
Agency.
In railroad centres like New Yorl
there are always thousands of men wh'
have at times had experience in rail
road work. Thus there is always larg,
surplus of skilled men upon whom cor
porations can rely, and though thousand
may 60 on strike, their places are yer.
soon filled.
So long as the present system con
tinues, whereby one-tenth of the work
ing population of the country is com
PEELED to live in enforced idleness, jus
that long will the laboring class be KEEP
in their present position.
1t matters not how just his deman
may be, the toiler mnst not leave hi
work, for there are two or more person
always ready and anxious to tax
his place. How long this conditio
will last depends on how soon or
portunities for all to work is granted
) Until then the laboring man can ex
pect nothing but temporary relief iron
any of the many measures promulgatet
by his friends. When every person VIII
wishes to work can enjoy the privilege
of doing so and when the natural oppor
tunities of this great country are opened
to all alike, then permanent change viii
take place in the life of the workingman
Under present conditions the growth
of the country cannot provide employ
ment for its own inhabitants, yet every
transatlantic steamer is constantly pour
ing foreign population upon us, keep
ing the labor market continually over
stocked.
With the new arrivals not only will
ing but anxious to replace the American
workman at lower rate of wages thai
he is receiving, there is absolutely n
protection for the American masses. l
is the law of supply and demand tina
regulates wages. At present the suppl
exceeds the demand, and under thi
condition capital has an unassailable ad
vantage, which makes it impossible fo
labor, no matter how just its cause, t
wage successful battle with rich an
prosperous employers.