Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-07-16
The Carnegie Strike.
Kansas City journal.

| Who struck? In this case 1t was
the Carnegie Iron and Steel Company
At least the works were closed before
the expiration of existing contracts
The company had demanded three
changes in the arrangement between
il and the workmen, and on the re-
fusal of the employees 10 agree, the
works were closed.
In this question, the violence and
bloodshed was consequence, not an
original factor. It's treatment belongs
to the legal authorities of the state OF
PENNSYLVANIA, but the fact that not a
dollars worth of injury has been done
the company's property, and that the
men heretofore employed are It's real
protectors, is fact that shows them
10 be governed by purpose that Is
not destructive. The reception given
the detective force is lesson that
ought to be taken TO heart by the
American people. The whole system
Of detective work is unamerican ana a
public danger. 1t has grown into an
| industry, and the fact of the existence
of several large organizations show
the extent TO which il must have al
tanned in modern ifc-for detective
work is very expensive. The question
underlying it is grave one-is espl-
onage the only method for property
protection or for tine enforcement OF
honesty? If so, then it must have It's
other side--the agency of dishonesty
and crime. The whole idea is a con-
demnation Of our social and business
life, Il reflection on public aud private
morals. OF course it is an incident in
this case.
But the Carnegie side of this matter
is based on the assumption that man
has right to control his own proper
IT,. AS strict proposition that Is
true, aud society As now constituted
cannot for a moment assent to any
thing else. One man has as good u
right to quit work as another has to
do work, or pay what lie can afford TO,
or is willing to do. These rights are
natural, original, inherent, arbitrary,
and belong to man as an individual.
But corporation is not an individu-
al. but creation Of society. Here is
a distinction that the average man
overlooks in the discussion of these
questions. What is an individual
right as member OF society, may not
be the right of corporation, a crea-
ture of society. Andrew Carnegie as
a blacksmith can hire as he pleases,
nav what he chooses, discharge as he
prefers, and nobody has Il right to in
terfere. But as The head OF corpora
ton, vested with the sovereign powers
of the state, enjoying rights, privileges,
immunity and protection 10 property
that can only be acquired IN this way,
he stands as an employer of labor In
an entirely different attitude.
In the first place, as u blacksmith he
has not the opportunity or power to
acc Emulate so vast properiy--lor
capital and labor cannot be combined.
to work together in large degree save
by the possession of certain legal power
that the individual cannot control, and
does not need. Or in brief, the en-
ployer and employed on the individual
or natural plane stand in a different
relation than they do on this artificial
plane. \ corporation is creature OF
the state and partakes in kind OF its
relation to individuals. That is the
distinction.
Now the law gave 10 the Cargenie
com any the power ~ acquire The vast
property they own, aud agreed 10 pro-
tect them in its acquisition aud pos
session. This grant and guarantee
gives them the power TO so monopo.
lizr and control the manufacture of
steel as 10 employ 1880 hlacksmiths.
Or in another form of statement, this
grant by the state compels $500 black
smiths to work for the company in
stead OF having shops of their own.
The power OF the company comes IN
this way: The legal protection
affords capital safety, and this buys
machinery, mines of iron and coal, and
enables them to produce steel at cost
the individual shop cannot compete
with-for society itself insists on buy
ing in the cheapest market.
Now. what is the situations? Here
are $500 blacksmilhs who to earn
livimg-an inherent natural right. and
the first of all righ;s-must work for
this company-becausc the act OF so.
ciety has made it The only channel Tor
the exercise of their labor aud skill.
That Is the memorable fact. Now it is
not only The duty of this company as
matter of equality, but il is their OBJ
legation as creature OF the law,
which the wOrkmen make as well rs
the employer, to give these men EN-
pluyment. TO stop work stops bread
earnings-fOr the men cannot open
shops for themselves and make steel.
As the corporation has absorbed iudl-
yidual enterprise il has incurred an
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