New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-20
LITER THE STRIKE.

Nv tho permission of Mr.. POwdcrly the New
yorl, Central strike. which practically ceased 10
eyist weeks ago. was officially declared on on
Wednesday. 1t is probable that the same thing
would have occurred if his permission had oeen
withheld. The General Master workman ~
not saving much OH this branch OF the SUP
icct. but those who assume to speak lor INC
self discharged employees of the company assign
the lacI, of funds to maintain the strikers III
dlencss as the principal cause OF their 1aii'ire'
J,nd,ubtedy this was tho principal reason TOR
acknowledging the failure. If contributions
for tho supnort of " the cause had been liberal
enouch to maintain most of those who are out
If work, in comparative comfort the onlclai eha
of the controversy would have been delerreo'
Practically. the result would not have oeen
vary different. The better mcp among the
strikers, who prefer to earn their living rather
than 10 accent precariOus charity, wo'lid nave
continued to seek reinstatement or employment
elsewhere, one after another, just as they have
becn doing since it first became evident thai inc
strike was hopeless. This process mas s'mp'!
been FASTENED. The applications now come all
at once instead OF i'll succession nut "inap'
pilv. it is to be feared that vacancies Will DC
found and filed almost rs slowly as before.
If This proves to be tho case, the officers OF
tho railroad company will not he at fault 1hey
arc not showing unnecessary resentment against
the men who deserted them. On the contrary
they have expressed sincere sympathy Tor inc
efficient employees who were deceived ana ne
traycd by the leaders of their order: B'i' shey
have filed the places of most OF the STRIKERS
and they certainly will not dismiss any new
man who has proved faithful and capable
At least we hope they will not. 10 10
81 would lie to become in some degree re-
spon>iblc for the odouS system which seeks
~ compcl cmploycs to Join labor organizations
AGAINST their inclinationS and to obey tyrannical
orders without protest.
The strife has been declared Oft. a> We have
said, because there was no money 10 SUSTAIN
tho farce longer. 1t is important. however I"
hear in mind that the failure OF the strike was
rot dino 10 this cause as the Spokesman OF the
KNIGHTS us,cr, that it was The strike failed
lonc AGO not on Wednesday. II failed because
!, was inherently unili>tiablc; because the
manner in which it was begun was pc'ular'!
dsrcputahlc: bctsllise public opinion declared
against the strikers unmlSfakahly from 'hc
outset. and because the officers vi inc co'l'p"h!
had the requisite firmir'| courage ana saSa'lS
In dctcnd its rights and the rights OF the pun
lie. Tic Knights might have made stronger
Gch, i! they had had stronger lradrr; h't' Oh
tho other hand. if their leader had been man
Of sound principle anu Judgment. 'h"r" w""i'
never lave been a fight Al all. Mr. I'"""'fiA
character and Galore al" pretty clearly 'h"'-
Gated l.. his grot 2>qil" assertion tha' the H'''hc
has cost the company nearly -""""' WV
III, chief ambition seems to DO I" save some
>hrni> Of reputation among his followers -!
dc,ulin. them into the belief thai the company
n,iJ 80 Den, for t. success that another victory
like t,i, would ruin it.