The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-08-25
Labor Troubles.

there seems to be growing disposition
to precipitate gigantic conflict with |
labor arrayed on one side and capital on /
the other. In many Instances, no doubt, |
the laborers are influenced by an aggra-
waited state of affairs which renders it |
absolutely necessary to take prompt and
organized steps. In such cases we sin
cerely sympathize with them in every
effort to better their condition. As it
was in the beginning SO it is now, "The
laborer is worthy of his hire" and we
have no patience with any person or
corporation who by reason of monied
power seeks to needlessly Cypress those
who toll. On the other hand great mis-
takes may be and are made by the la
borer 1t sometimes happens that on
account of the feverish condition of the
times insignificant or imaginary wrongs
are magniied and men work themselves
up to assuming all attitude at once im
polite and unjustifiable. AS rule
these extreme actions are not desired nor
demanded by the masses of those who
participate, but have their beginning in
the vision of few leaders or agtators
who consider not SO much the good of
the many us the advancement and per-
sonal gain of themselves These persons
by display of assumed authority and
wisdom induce good men to do what, if
left to themselves, they would never
think of and what in their cool. calcu
lating moments they would not approve.
Usually it is not the man who tolls that
brings on Il conflict, but some fellow
who has appointed himself the guardian
of labor for the sake of the revenue that
may accrue; and 10y such leaders men of
good motives are misled to an extreme
movement that can never be justified.
1t is the privilege OF every man, when
he considers his wages TOO small, to quit
work and seek IA better recompense; but
it is never his right to say another shall
not take his place, while the practice
resorted to in some recent Instances OF
destroying the property Of the employer
is a gross violation of law and an un-
warranted act of cowardice. The liza
grant wrongs are not committed usually,
it is true, by the SO called strikers, but
by Il class Of unprincipled canp-fol
lowers who seize the opportunity to give
expression to their mai;gnitv. In nine
cases out Of ten those who resort to des-
structive measures are not Atuericans
but importatious of the lowest Older
who have no regard whatever for our
government and no concern about its
L.,
to regard liberty us a license to do as
they please and law as an intruder
The authorities cannot be too prompt
or strict i'll dealing with such persons.
They should be taught that the Ameri
can people are not to be trampied upon
by the offscouring of the earth. Not
only do they materially harm those
classed among capitalists, but they do
incalculable damage to the cause of labor
by committing their iniquities in labor's
name. Thus the honest toilers are cred
tied with mischief for which they are
jured in their cause.
1t is the duty Of all good people who
value liberty and love justice to unite III
their efforts to check these frequent out
breaks of lawlessness, then capital and
labor will be able to treat with one an
other on a high and civilized plain.
Over 5000 more immigrants in July
than in July of last year! In the sever
months of 1899, 81, 749 more of such ar
rivals than in the corresponding perioc
of 1891 Thus the disconcerting figures
grow from month to month. The pau
pers, the criminals, the anarchists, the
pest-stricken are not at all sensitive owe
our repeated declarations that they arr
not wanted; indeed. they know nothing
whatever about the state of feeling here
being as ignorant and as Indifferent
about America as though it was thu
moon; they simply pour in stead,
flood into land where the greenes
labor is sure of dollar a day, while a
home it could hardly secure that mucf
week. But how much longer can il
go on without definitely wrecking free
titutions-corrupting the ballot boz
and demoralizing the labor field beyond
recovery? Homestead, Buffalo, and
Coal Creek tell the story and Congress
had better heed it,
In the opinion of the Baltimore Suf
'san interesting feature of the Presiden
tial situation is the fact that Mr.. Cleve
land can be elected this year without
The six votes of West Virginia, provided
lie holds the other States he carried in
1884. That year he received 219 votes
against 1872 for Mr.. Blaine, 301 being nee
essary for a choice. This year 1913 votes
will be required to elect. The States
carried by Cleveland in 1881 have gained
by the apportionment seven electoral
votes, as follows: Texas 2, and Alabama,
Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri and New
Jersey, each l. These added to the
2l9 votes of 1884, will make 1896, which
along with say votes from Michigan
will give 230, or more than required.
But West Virginia will hardly relish the
idea of getting left"
Circuit Court begins at Covington to-
day, with Judge William Mclaughlin
on the bench Ii all the cases on the
docket are ready for trial, we may ex-
iDect protracted term. There is a
large number of jury cases which, if
contested, will consume considerable
elne Judge Mclaughlin however, has
the happy faculty of pushing business
through IN short order, at the same time
doing his work thoroughly. A great
many persons from Clifton Forge Will
attend this term of the Court some as
lawyers, some clients, some jurors, some
witnesses. and some as mere spectators.
The term of court will probably extend
into next week considerably.
The Boston transcript calls on the
next Republican Convention of Massa-
cheusetts to name the next United States
Senator to be elected next March, and
closes it's remarks by saying: "The Sen
atorship is a national office and shonld
represent the dominant sentiment OF