Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-05-17
STRIKES.

The civilized world is to-day involved in tumult of strikes, and naturally the causes thereof have given rise to much discusslon. What is 8 strike? When a body of labor ing men refuse to perform their labor, and thus seek to harass their em- ployer into submission to their demands for an increase of pay, or some other emolument to their benefit, it is so called strike. By this means thousands Of men in the United States today, are suffering from the above cause-let alone the millions of unemployed on the other side of the Atlantic, rendered dee- titute and desperate through idleness- victims of their own folly. In thIs age of freedom a man certainly has the right to demand what he deems his just due, but he should remember that his employer also is entitled to a fair share of justice; he should of his boss are sometimes identical with those of his own, and that if perfect harmony cannot prevail, 8 nio,2ost coG- sideration of mutual rights should some times be entertained by the working man. We do not favor the employer more than the employee for there are monopolists in all countries who seek to grind the daily toll out of mechanic for mere pittance, but they are not in the majority. Strikes, in such instances, are justifable, and have the sympathy and support of all fair-minded men, but the present system of calling for a uni versal strike of all branches of industry in order to bring to successful issue the demands of any one particular branch of trade-throwing thousands of families into the depths of poverty, des- oltaion and misery-is the recompense conferred upon the striker for his zeal in behalf of the malcontents. For in- stance, A" is moulder and is well satisfied with his employment. "B" works in the same establishment as a
 
 him. He demands "A" to join him in strike and by this means close down the factory, and compel the owner thereof to acceed to the terms dictated by "D'. Such, it would seem, is the policy pursued by the Federation of Labor Unions to-day. It is policy disastrous to both master and man. Justice does not demand "B" to close down a factory simply because it is not conducted in manner to suit his financial views. Such 1 a course savors too strongly of Anarchy 1 to merit the approval of aIr-minded ] men. An uniustiftable strike is a curse to ! the country in which itCprevails; it | causes stagnation in all branches of in l dustry, idleness and want are its pre- dominant features, and disaster is the in- | evitable result. Tell an ignorant man that he is being imposed upon by his l employer, and you will find that he will i become the most enthusiastic Of !, 'kickers." The poor fellow himself |
  could not see that he was being ill-treat- | ed. Nol he had to be informed of that l fact by some agitator first. Bat once imbued with the belief that he has been | imposed upon-real or inaginary-and | the balance of his days will be devoted | to the formation of strikes, and idlences his only pursuit. Labor unlons are, when properly conducted, great help | to the workingman, and is likewise of | benefit to the employer, for through | them the manufacture is assured Of | prompt and competent men. But theso- i cialistic element has taken to prominent | a part in the affairs of labor unions dur ing the past couple of years to hope for success in their undertakings, much l less the approval Of the general public. There should be moderation in all | things, and particularly so in a case of this kind, where a mans labor is his cap ital