Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-11-25
The Teachings Of Homestead.

Now that the Almagamated Associatlon
has made a complete surrender by deciai-
ing the strike of, even as regards the mem
bers OF the union IN whose behalf 1t was
waged, it would be in order for the Advis-
ory board or some one representing or sus-
tanning their side of the contention TO
point out what has been gained to organ
lied labor as set-off against the fearful
loss and damage enrailed upon the organi-
zation most directly concerned Perhaps
those demagogic newspapers which es-
pouscd the cause of the strikers can point
them to some good accomplished. They
may be told that in so far as the bloody
drama at Homestead contributed to tne
overthrow of the party of protection and
paved the way for the repeal OF tarin
which "makes the rich richer and the poor
poorer" it is worth all the deprivation and
suffering and all the money which it cost.
Whether the deceived, humiliated and i'm
poyerished strikers will accept this view is
another matter. They will have to wait
and see what benefit is to come to labor IN
the aggregate before they conclude that
they have paid the price for its redemp-
tion.
Let us suppose that the 300 highpriced
men whom the Carnegie Company pro-
posed to reduce, and in support of whose
demands some 5000 employees ceased work
for twenty weeks, had accepted the reduc-
ton, to what extent would they have in
jured themselves or damaged their labor
unionf 1t was claimed by the mill owners
and, no doubt, correctly so, that these re-
ductions were nominal rather than real,
and that as they were to be paid on ton
mage basis they would have az large, II not
larger, yearly incomes than they had been
earning, without having to work any hard
or or longer. The difference would have
been made up to them by the improved
facilities for getting out the work. Sup
pose they had agreed to try the expert
ment for six months or year, how much
better off would they find themselves to-
day and what incalcuIable damage would
they have spared to their fellow-workmen
and to the busting and thrifty town Of
Homestead Then there is broader view
involved in the bloody riot of July 6, tie
immense outlay involved in the preservs-
tion of peace by the military and the fear
full amount of litigation resulting from az
saults and murderous riots, and the ire
parable damage sustained by organized
labor by reason Of the fact that it sought
to accomplish its ends through violence
and bloodshed. In the one case the Anal
gamated association would have been as
compact, as strong and as useful as ever.
BY the course chosen it deliberately risked
almost inevitable defeat, and is glad to re-
lieve itself of further responsibility for the
support ofits sympathetic allies by declar-
ing the strike off.
Trades unionism should perceive by this
time the utter fallacy of attempting to win
ia conflicts with capital by resort to
either threats or violence. If it cannot
enforce its demands except through de
nial of the rights of property and person
to all who stand in its way it cannot sue
ceed at all. Men who are so sensitive as
to the tyranny of capitap' should be care
full not to place themselves absolutely
under the domination of demagogues.
What greater despotism could have been
conceived than that which took the civil
law by the throat at Homestead and set up
in its place the reign of the Advisory
Boardf 1t was none the less anarchy be-
cause consumated in the name Of organized
labor. 1t is amazing that intelligent men
should, for the third Of year, follow the
advice of leaders who, while their dupes
were suffering, were themselves living on
the fat of the land. The tyranny Of capi-
tai may be grevious, bat it can scarcely
exceed in intensity the domination Of an
advisory board.
What a relief it would be to the strikers
were the association able to declare Off
the load of misery, disappointment and
adversely which has been heaped upon
them and their families by four months Of
idleness They can each count the wa
ges which would have been theirs during
that time and write over the sum dead
loss" Not only SO, but hundreds will new
or get work in the mills at all, while 9th
ers who are acceptable will have to take
such positions as they can get or seek work
elsewhere. Each man can figure for him
self what he has lost, but how is he to es-
innate his gains To sum the whole
matter up, organized labor must trust more
to its own good sense and Judgment and
less to the advice of walking delegates, ad-
visory boards, grand master workmen and
demagogic editors and stump orators. And
1t must, above all things else, conduc
Ia conflicts within the pale of the law