St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-23
LAROR,S WAR.

The labor conference at Terre Haute
to-day will be an exceptionally I'M
portant meeting, probably the most i'm
portant in the history of the labor cause.
The action taken by the supreme coun-
Gil of the labor federation to-day will
determine the status of the strike on the
New York Central, and will possibly re-
suit IN precipitating crisis III the con-
flict between capital and labor.
The situation is most serious in what
ever light we view it, and the whole
country will anxiously await the out
come of the deliberations of the Terre
Haute meeting. Mr.. PowDERLY' adj
dress was very plausible statement of
the labor side to this controversy, and it
places the New York Central officials at
decided disadvantage unless they are
able to controvert it.
1t is now apparent that the matter in
issue between Mr.. WEBB and Mr.. Pow
Derby has two sides to it. When Mr..
WEBB asserted that the men were dis
charged for cause and not because they
were members of labor organization,
the public accepted his statement as
the truth and sustained him in his posi-
ton, that the railway company had the
right to manage its own affairs without
outside interference. But Mr.. Pow
DERLY's address places a different
phase on the situation and convlcts the
railway officials of falsehood.
Stripped of all guises the issue is SIM
ply this: The VANDERBILTs have de-
termined to crush the labor unions,
while the labor unions do not propose
to be crushed by the VANDERBILTs. 1t
is fight Of money against muscle.
That is all there is to it, and those whose
sympathies are with capital will sus-
tain the VANDERBLTS, while those
whose Sympathies are with labor will
array themselves on the side of Pow
Derby.
Perhaps the only question that will be
discussed at Terre Haute to-day will
whether this is propltious time to
precipitate the conflict that must come
sooner or later. And, indeed, there is
not much ground for debate on this
question. The VANDERBILT manage
ment having already thrown down the
gauntlet, the labor leaders can scarcely
decline to take it up. When this trouble
first began to brew, the GLOBE said that
it was to be fight to the finish, and
subsequent developments seem to have
confirmed that opinion. So far as the
labor people are concerned, it must be
Stand-up fight OF a square back down;
at time, too, wnen surrender would
imperil the integrity of the la ber feder-
alton. If the VANDERBILTS win in this
fight, the speedy dissolution of the
labor organization would follow accord
ing to the logic of events.
Mr.. PoWDERLY and his associates
doubtless realize the gravity of the situ-
alton. There is scarcely a reason to
doubt the result of to-day's delibera-
tions. Unless there is some indication
on the part OF Mr.. WEBB Of a willing
ness to submit the matter to arbitra-
ton, the order will go out from Terre
Haute for strike all along the lines of
the VANDERBILT system; and it will be
obeyed. And it is just possible that it
may extend to other roads, for there is
sure to be more or less disposition man
Tested by the various railway COM
panies to stand by the VANDERBILTS in
this struggle.
Possibly it is best that the fight should
be made right now The conflict is an
irrepressible one. and must be fought
out some day. The sooner it is settled,
the better it will be for the business in
terests of the country. The disturb
anceS that are constantly arising be-
tween the corporations and their en-
ployes are hurtful TO business of every
sort, and more stable condition of rail
way management must be established.
Congress having failed to provide
remedy by suitable legislation, the only
alternative is to let the corporations
and the labor unions let slip the dogs
of war and fight the battle to ilniSh