The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-12-13
THE HOMESTEAD POISONING.

Dispatches from Homestead yesterday
reveal a condition of things existing at
the time of the strike, least expected.
That the strikers had so far criminated
themselves as to enter upon scheme to
destroy the lives of men who were will
ing to work by poisoning their food, is
brought out. 1t has no parallel in the
history of crime. The next thing to
this in the criminal proceeding of strik-
ers was that outrage at Buffalo, when
two strikers were caught in the act of
misplacing switch, and when the
police had just enough time to SET it
right before lightning passenger ex-
press went laundering by. If it had
gone thnndering through the mis-
placed switch to destruction, with its
-train-hands and passengers, the whole
nation would have shuddered at the in
famous crime.
1t is in such crimes as these in con-
nection with labor troubles that the
gravest menace appears. 1t is serious
matter to contemplat the spectacle of
a mob arrogating to themselves the
right to defy laws nomInally created by
the sovereign people; but when the ter
rible act is performed by taking human
life by unsupported methods, when poi
son is resorted to, the violence presages
an element of danger which stuns the
ssensibilities of law-abiding people, and
calls for the most excessive punishment
devised by man, and where there may
have been an expression of sympathy
for the misguided leaders and the COM
mon worker whose scanty wages per-,
haps were not affected, but who obedi-
entity su ubmitted to strike and starve, the
sentiment turns to bitter hatred and the
cause, if they had one, suffers.
In this strike at Homestead history
repeats itself. 1t is invariably the few
who profit and the many who suffer.
The Homestead strike has resulted in a
loss to the workmen in wages alone
nearly $4,000, 900; in loss of human
confidence which can now never be re-
stored to them; in a loss of the last
spark of honor remaining among them.
Their gains are only dishonor, disgrace
and starvation staring them in the face.
Verify have they ''reaped the whirlwind"
from their sowing, 1t has been most
unfortunate affair for the many en-
gagged in it. There is perhaps no other
trade in which the distinction between
3the aristocracy and the commons is SO
strongly marked as it is in the iron mills.
In some of these labor unions the gem
eral tendency is to discourage excellence
and to keep the skilled workmen down
to the standard of the unskilled, and it
is here that is found the shrewed schem-
er, living upon the wages of the indus
tries, assuming despotic power, and
the greatest suffering upon the
classes least able to bear it.
The outcome of the strike at Homestead
should teach lessons of obedience to the
laws of God and man, but will it? Let the
answer.
It can scarcely be expected that the
answer will be favorable, so long as such
bodies of men are organized with a total
lack of the principles OF right. They
make no restriction for nationality
morality, sobriety, loyalty or efficiency
They no sooner organize than they pre-
sumo to dictate code and a rate of ap
premiership to perpetuate their leaders
in the highest places for prefernent o
wages, and thus it is by such rules thai
our native born youth is prohibited from
learning trades, by organizations com
posed largely of foreigners, many o
whom are unnaturalized and but re
Gently imported. This latest event a
Homestead reveals these evil effect,
which will readily be understood, anc
which need but to be suggested to max,
an impression upon an intelligent public
of the extent aud magnitude of the Grim
inal effect of labor unions generally.