The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-28
The Outcome OF the Labor Union FIX
pertinent.

The Outcome OF the Labor Union FIX
pertinent.
As a matter OF course. the Buffalo strike
has ended disnstrously for the strikers.
They threw up jobs and wages which other
workmcn were glad to get. and hence not
more than one-half OF them. possibly not
more than one-third, can go back to their
places again. Thus hundreds of switchmcn
who had regular employment at sure wages.
are now out OF work and hunting for u Job.
We arc sorry for them. They arc men
dcluded by false leaders. desperate char
ncters. who themselves had nothing to lose
by the conmotion they stirred up.
During their voluntary idleness the
strikers we're diverted from thoughts about
serious consequences by tho excitement OF
the contest in which they were engaged.
They were intent only on fighting. and
fighting is a business in which human ma
turc finds delight. and especially the nature
OF strong and vigorous men like the SWITCH
men. They enjoyed the fighting for itself.
1t was full OF cxhilaration for them. They
were intoxicated by 1t.
But enforced idleness, such rs they must
now endure. is another thing. 1t Is very
prosaic business and sets men to thinking
md grumbling and cursing themselves.
when they know that they themselves
are responsible for the misfortune. The
intoxication is over and the subsequent de-
preston has come to them. poor and mis-
guided men. It Is therefore a time when
they and all other workingmcn who are
subject to such misrule may profltably re-
fleet on this question:
Is 1t worth while to throw up a job for
which many are eager and for which they
are competent simply because other work.
ingmcn are dissatisfied with their pay? In
other words. is u man under obligation to
sacrifice his own living on the chance OF bet
tering the pay OF some other man?
Even IL there IL such an obligation, 1t Is
obeyed by the union workingmen only.
Nobody else is 80 far unseltlsh. 1t might
be called a noble altruism to give up your
own and your family's bread for the benefit
OF somebody else. but even Christianity
teaches us that q man must first of all look
after his own household; and that is the
rule among men. They proceed on tho
principle that first Of all they themselves
and those dependent on them must be pro-
vidcd for.
But labor union mon are required to give
up their jobs. though they arc satisfied
with them. merely because other union
men are disconnected with their Jobs. Thus
they leave their places open to be filled
by some OF the great multitude of men
who arc always looking for work.
Such is tho sympathetic strike. which
SWEENEY tried to havo extended to the
whole force Of railroad operatives. cngi-
neers, fremen. brakemen. and tclegraphers,
simply for the benefit OF Il few switcllmen
who were dissatisfied. He had succeeded
In ordering out other swltchmen who wcro
working contentedly. and thus In making
them sncrlflce their places and cndaEgcr
their chances OF ever getting them again:
and he wanted to get everybody employed
on a railroad to join with them In the I'M
selfish strike Of the many for the benefit OF
the few solely.
These railroad operatives would have
had reason for complaint II they had been
turned out OF their places summarily by tho
companies. merely Oh the chance of
getting cheaper men. The public SYM
pathy would have been with them md
against tho railroads. Such n pro-
ccedlng would have been denounced rs
inhumanity. But SWEENEY suddenly or
dered out tho switchmen. whether they
had grievances or not. and then he abused
the chiefs OF the unions of the other opera
tives for not ordering a strike also. though
their men had nothing to complain of on
their own account. Ho wanted them to
strike purely out OF sympathy for q few dis
satisfied swltchmen. and thus disturb the
whole business OF the country and subject
themselves to great losses.
Here In New York the whole building
trade. with many allied Industries. was par
alyzed for months by such q sympathetic
strike. Nearly 10000 men were thrown out
OF work which they needed. and wages with
which they were satisfied. simply as an ex-
hibition OF sympathy with u single union
whose original purpose In ordering a strike
was nothing more than the dlsclplining OF
q single member!
II a man who kept a shop. should close
up his store and refuse to do any business
simply because a ~neighboring shopkecpcr
was not making as much as he wanted. he
would be. looked upon as a crank.
But union worklngmen are expected
and required by their unions to give
up places with which they are con-
tent. II other workingmen in their
W or other unions arc discontented
with their work or in rebellion against
their union. They are forced to add to the
chances OF losing their jobs at tho will OF
employers. the further chances of losing
them at the command of walking delegates.
though other laborers are waiting to take
up the jobs.
We do not believe hat In the long run
sensible human nature will submit To such u
strain on its power of self-sacrince. No
where else in society is 1t endured except
In the labor unions. The Willingness to