The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-07-29
The Impending Conflict.

anu Inc tdOOfF' 1nlS last cnapler more
forcibly demonstrates the mistaken principle
that all trades unions have acted on, and
reveals the weakness and folly of the strike
as a means to coerce the capitalist, en-
trenched behind the corporation ard de-
Tended by law. The capitalist has acted
wisely, the laborer foolishly. The capitalist
has secured the protection of the State in
case of emergency. The laborer has de-
pended on his power Of numbers disregard
ing law and the power of the State, having
only his selfshness in view, which was the
purpose 10 raise has wages, regardless Of the
rest of the labor world. In fact ne is willing
to join capital or rather the capitalist in an
effort TO trample on the rights of his fellow
Iaborers, if they happen to belong to
branch of industry he is not specially em-
ployed in, or are willing TO do the work he
rejects for the wages he refuses. The inher-
ent weakness not to say tyranny of this
position ought TO be apparent 10 all, hut it
seems not to have been.
This fatal defect in tie labor union can
not but become clear 10 the most obtuse of
the brotherhood Of those unions. This
ignorance of results has been taken advar.
tage of by the corporations to divert the
unions from perceiying the great strength
| that is within their reach, through the ballot,
and TO give them into the hand of the trad.
| ing politicians who have made use of them
to increase and consolidate the power of
monopoly. The labor unions by their
strikes have harassed the corporations no
little and caused them great losses; but the
war between them, like all wars has been
destructive not profitable to either party.
There must be an end to all wars or total
annihilation is inevitable. This end is
reached either by the subjugation of one Of
the parties which oppose each other or a
treaty of peace. All such treaties are sure
to be broken which are not founded in JUS
tice and the equal rights of all parties to
the struggle. The contentious in the form
of strikes which have been patched up by
the parties Immediately concerned without
regard TO tEose-which is the general
public-indirectly influenced, could not
possibly remain permanent, and hence
strikes have become chronic till they have
grown intolerable and public sentiment
while on the side of the strikers for the
justice they demand, is opposed TO the
warlike methods they pursue.
This Homestead battle is the turning
point in the long and destructive wars
which have been waged by the two houst S
for supremacy. The corporation needed but
vast aggregation of capital which the
trust has succeeded in accommodating, as
exempli6ed in the Carnegie combination,
with an aggressive leader like Prick to
force the contest after all necessary prepare.
tons for the campaign had been made. The
Amalgamated Association was the most
powerful organization which labor had
succeeded in consolidating. II the corpora.
ton could successfully attack and DESTROY
this, labor, Oh the lines it had laid down 10
successfully fight capital would be virtually
vanquished The corporation had bided its
time and secured all the laws it desired to
support its cause. Its rights are acknowl-
edged in law TO be the same as those of the
citizen, and in case of encroachment upon
them the power of the state and nation is
pledged to sustain them, the same as the
home, the property and liberty OF the citi.
zen are defended and sustained when threat.
ened or encroached upon.
This was the condition of affairs when
Tricks campaign was planned against
associated labor. The public has been
amused and diverted by the question of
wages for the purpose of concealing the true
merits of the case. The Carnegie company
cared little for the difference ola few dollars
more or less in the matter Of wages. Like
all despots they chafe under a divided
authority. They thirst for absolute power.
Like Ahab they ccvet Naboth's vineyard,
and the corporation daily press, their
Jezebel, is ready to devise means by which
the inheritance OF labor shall be delivered
to the corporal ions the Ahabs of our time
and generation.
A high wall was built round about the
Carnegie works, and the laborers were in.
formed that portion of them shonld sub
nit to reduction of wages, and that future
contracts should date from January instead
OF from July, the busy season. 1t was
known in advance that the Amalgamated
Association would object to these terms.
Consequently detachment of the Pinker-
ton army, which is an unconstitutional body
OF mercenary troops recruited and equipped
and ready to obey the call of the corpora
tons when the labor organizations attempt
to enforce their demands. AL these prep
araions for final struggle were made by
trick, and the war was inangurated To
preclpitate just such conflict was the de-
iioerate purpose monopoly. They knew
that the blind Samson of labor occupied
untenable ground, and if the temporary
forces of monopoly failed they had the mil
ltary power ofthe State and Nation at their
call. This could have been invoked without
conflict, but ii would not have punctnated
so emphatically the power of corporation,
as the building fortress about their works
and garrisoning it with an army of their
own, and wholly under their own command.
The battle W hi ch wae ,ao;o;,o,ol -