Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-07-26
WHAT TIE HOMESTEAD TROUBLE
SUGGESTS.

THE attempt to nssassinate Manager
Frick, OF the Carnegie works, nj
Homestead, IL n suggestive incident.
We stated on Saturday that we did
not believe the murderous act could be
connected with the Amalgamaiea
Trades Union Association, and 40 II
transplr,s. We were also correct In the
idea that Notwithstanding that no con.
nection Of that nature would be estab-
ll-hed, united labor ut Homestead, and
perhaps throughout the country, would
suffer from the moral effect Of the
deed.
Unfortunately for organized labor,
evidences arc being developed that in
dictate annrchistic tendencies at Home
stead. AZ an Instance, II In reported
that eight forcmen have left the Carne.
gle works since the attempt on Mr..
Tricks life, because they have been
threatened that their lives would he
taken II they continued TO work for
the company. Tho attack upon Mr..
Friok impressed them W It'll the idea
that the threat was not nm idle one
AMI they left the works. Even II there
were no intentions To carry out these
threats, they are OF themselves an.
archlstic, Ani constitute moral con.
neclion between workmen at Home.
stead and the arch-enemies Of social
order who c,mml, deeds OF blood.
A recent manifesto issued by the
Amalgamstsd Association also had n
decidedly communisiic tendency. II
claimed that because the workmen nj
Homestead had, by their labor, con.
tfibutod to the building up OF the
Carnegie works they had an actual
right Of proprietorship therein. Tho
government was called upon to sup.
port this view.
No such claim IL sustained by OK
isting law. Tho workmen performed
labor for which they were to bo paid
stipulated amount. The payment OF
the wages wnn this satisfaction OF the
agreement on the part OF the employ
ers. To make claim beyond that OF
proprietorshlp OF the plant Ia out Of
the question. To enforce II would be-
anafchinm.
Such outbreaks and bloody revolts
M those which have occurred nj Home.
stead AMI Cnur d'Alene sugges, the
necessity Tor an adjustment OF the
labor and capital question, II such
thing be possible. Hope has pointed
the finger OF expectation toward the
ptlncipla OF proht-sharing between
tho employers and employed. But we
doubt solution Of the problem by this
means. There Is n primal condition
that IL indispensable--tho willingness
u the capitalist, which will not be
secured. In the absence OF the will 10
conform, II could not be legally On.
forced. But even " capitalists should
operate on this basis, there would eK.
lat another formidable barrier - the
fluctuations OF trade. In times OF
stagnation, when establishments could
only be run at u loss, the masses would
never take quietly to n situation OF
that character. They would not be
willing TO share the losses M well M
the profits. There doubtless would be
business enterprises which could be
coniucted upon this plan, but these
Isolated instances would be only drops
In the ocean Of trade. Indeed the com.
pllcatioEs would probably DO greater
than under the present plan Of regulat.
ing the relations OF the two classes on
the principle nj Supply mud demand
and according 10 natural agreement.
We have come TO the conclusion
that the solution OF great social
problems Is matter Of moral status.
So long ns men are selfish and sordid,
peace and good order will always be
uncertain and exceedingly limited
conditions on our planet. In these
lines the race is running backward.
Just 40 sure as this 10 the case, 50 sufe
IL there trouble, strife and hloodshed
ahead. This msy be put down as
fact. Even the situation, as it's, pre-
sonts the aspect OF incipient civil war.