The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-25
GREAT STRIKE THREATENED.

The special London correspondence OF
the New York Sun for Sunday contains
the following
What promises to be the greatest
strike in all history. growing out of the
Lancashire cotton trade troubles, is now
apparently inevitable. On November Sth
$1,000 opera tives will leave their looms
and sixteen or seventeen million spindles
will become silent. The issue has been
described, but II can be restated in
word. The manufacturers insist on
per cent. reduction in wages. The opera
tives admit that the market Is so unfav-
orable that their employers are in some
difficulties. and they offer to submit to
some reduction in hours and correspond
ing reduction in pay. They will not ac-
cept less money for present services
Efforts 10 reach an agreement have been
long continued, but they are now aban-
doned. Never was a labor battle so care
fully prepared for, and with both sides
so thoroughly equipped and organized.
The operatives have the strongest ana
wealthiest organization in the world.
Their resources are so great that they
can remain idle for several weeks without
actual suffering for the first time in
England The employers also are In
compact and well disciplined body. hold
ing the control OF half the spindles In the
whole cotton trade. They will really gain
strength from a certain term Of non-pro-
duction So the struggle, from the pre-
sent outlook, has no terrors for them.
few mills I'm the combination will probably
nav the fine which the rules Of the Mas
ter Cotton Spinners' Federation impose
on its members and delay the enforce
ment Of the reduction for some little time
after November Sth. The battle will pro-
badly be bloodess one, for long time.
at least The operatives are intelligent.
and they have shown no bitterness in the
dispute thus far. In most Of the cities
and towns affected the cotton mills furn-
ish almost the sole local industry. There
will therefore be clear field for great,
well-balanced campaign, which cannot
fail to command the attention and in
terest Of the world"
The operatives have an undoubted right
TO quit work II they choose to do so, and
no one has any right whatever TO inter-
fere with them, or in any way to restrain
them from exercising that right II they
see fit to do il. The employers equally
have a right to refuse to pay the wages
in question and no one has any right
whatever to interfere with them in the
exercise OF that right. Great Britain has
a Government of law, and, IL the strike
takes place IS threatened, we will see
it progress under a strict enforcement and
protection by the authorities of the rights
Of each side The operatives will be
thoroughly protected in their right to
discontinue work, the employers Will be
thoroughly protected in their right to be
exempt from being molested by the
strikers while the strike is on. Any new
employees whom they may take into their
service will also receive complete protec-
hands of the old employees. We shall,
therefore, see just what a strike con-
Quoted with strict regard for the rights
of all parties Is worth.
In our judgment it will demonstrate
that. as a method for improving his con-
dition, il is the greatest mistake the lab
oring man can make. Here will be $4,000
men idle for an indefinite time and, when
the strike is ended what will the situa-
ton be? They will find that their places
have been filled as those of the Home
stead strikers have been, and they will
be adrift for bread upon the cold charities
of the world
A strike is one form OF violence 1t
is the declaration OF a purpose by one
party to coerce another party into con-
forming its conduct to the first party's
will This was never yet accomplished
except by war and never will be. While
peace prevails, argument and reason are
the only weapons with which results
can be achieved and the sooner the lab
oring population thoroughly learns this
fact the better it will be for all parties.