The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-21
THE MACHTNIsTs' STRIKE.


whose columns have been freely open TO both
sides. the subject has been sufficiently dis
crssed 10 enable some conclusions to be
drawn touching the principles involved and
| tho probable outcome Of the controversy.
While there have been no such acts OF vio-
/ lence ~ bayc characterized foreign sulkeIs'
who have not the anteceden's and cievaiins
Influences which have surrounded our native
bora American mechanics -Inen accustomed
to the self-control peculiar to our people vet
the menace by the strikers in surrounding
the combnny's works and their too vehement
Arguments" with workmen disposed 90 take
employment under the company, have gone
70 the extreme limit Of good order, If they
have not actually been against the peace and
dignity of the Commonwealth, and have
transcribed the spirit Of our institutions and
tended to introduce here pornicious novelties
from which we havo heretofore been happily
exempt.
The issues raised by the workmen with the
company seem 70 be- IN brief: First.
| That the skilled mechanics shall themselves
have the right to determine who shall be-
operate certain q the company's machines
and to receive the appropriate wages there
for Second. That failing to persuade the
! company by argument 30 concede to this de-
mand. they the skilled mechanics should
Withdraw in body, accompanied by all
sympathizers. and then proceed TO enforce
their argument by preventing without breach
Of the peace the company from employing
any other mechanics to take their places.
Now. we have only to do with this subject
as il touches the spirit Of our American instl-
tuiions. Happily. there are no other issues
| involving the wages or the treatment due
high class mechanics TO distract our atten-
ton from the true principle at stake.
IL it oonsonant with our elementary ideas
of American freedom that any man or
set If men shall of their own motion. inter-
fere with a lawful bargain between othor men
touching a legal subject matter; II such a
right is claimed is it not based on some
| authority not known TO our laws and not
recognized in our political system, What au-
thority then is this but the authority Of
! force?
The individual is 10 the extent that such
authority prevails, removed from under the
! protection of the laws of the land, and is ex-
posed TO an oppression which would compel
! him 10 abstain from a natural and lawful act,
or TO concede against his will the unlawful
demands Of this self-constituted authority
This is indeed tremendous issue. The
question of the prosperty.of a corporation or
the rate Of wages Of individual men is insig-
nifcant in comparison with the introduction
Of practice which would substitute force for
law. and which avowedly bands the strong
together against the weak.
The specious talk Of protecting skilled
labor against impostors and men who have
stolen their trade cannot hide the horrd
form of this selfish and lawless spirit We
believe that most Of the men who have gone
out on this strike have not stopped 10 con-
s.der the real principle at the bottom Of their
action. Nothing could be more fatal TO the
permanence Of the prosperity Of our mechani-
cal classes than their success in this contro-
versy.
The inevitable consequence would be the
withdrawal of all personal interest Of the own
ers in such works. and the warning would be
given at large to manufacturers to get their
| money ont Of enterprises III which the clearly
defined legal rights Of individuals must give
place 10 the arbitrary rulings of a secret meet
ing.
The expedience Of labor unions is brought
into question in the minds Of some of its most
Jealous advocates. when a solid phalanx Of
workmen is precpitatcd almost without a
word Of warning against their employers, and
intended to require a surrender of personal
liberty which the employers could never give
up.
The efforts which have been openly made by
the skilled mechanics to enforce submission
by the owners of the works to their demands
is hut another form of this un-Amencau spirit.
and there Is every reason why it should be
resisted.
No man has right to force himself into
the employment Of another any more
thar tho owners of works have
II right to send out press gang
and force men to work for them
against their will II seems almost absurd
10 state such a simple and self-evident truth
but this is just what is gong on under our
eyes and good men are earnestly invoking
the directors Of the Locomotive Works 10 ar.
bitrate whether they will OF will not be
forced to surrender their unquestioned rights
and give employment. under compulson. %
men who exercised their own legal rights
promptly and decisvely in leaving the service
Of the company without notice.
1t would be safe TO say that there is not a
thoughtful and brave man out on the strike
who would not have just contempt for the
directors Of the Locomotive Works If they
should abdicate their proper authority and
under force, give up plain right
THE TINES has taken no part in this contro-
versy hut has left its columns open for the
fullest discussion from both sdes--indeed, EN-.
couragng the strikers to make their case as
clear and strong rs possible The time has
come, however. when our duty to the public
to workmen and employees alike; to skilled
mechanics who need no protection-for then
skill and ability protects them-and to I'M
skilled laborers who are dependent on then
more fortunate brother mechanics, and ar,