The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-15
The Labor Problem.


How is the trouble between the locked-out
workmen at Homestead and the mill owners
20 10 settledl That is a question that has
not yet been answered.
The workmen put themselves outside Of
the law when they took possession Of the
mills and virtually said that they would
permit only union workmen to operate
them. They had tbs power and they did
what they pleased. There was not one Of
them who did not know that he was violat-
ing the law, but they would not have re-
coded from the position they had taken
had they not been compelled to do so by
superior force.
The law must be upheld, even il the
locked out workmen are compelled 70 leave
their homes and seek work elsewhere.
Without law there could be no industrial
enterprises Capital would not be invested
in them, and the condition Of workmen who
are dependent upon them would become de-
plorable.
But what do the locked-out workmen
purpose to dol Mr. Frick, the manager Of
the Carnegie Steel Association, says he is
going to put non-union men in the mills
and purpose to adhere TO the scale Of wages
which the locked-out workmen rejected.
His programme is decided upon, and he is
the sort OF man to follow it. While the
troops are in Homestead there will be no
disturbance, but what will the looked-out
men do when the troops are withdrawn?
Will they make war on the non-union men
as they did on the Pinkepton men and as
the union men are making on the non-unioA
men in the mines of Idaho! Ii they do
that the state will have to pay for what
ever damage they do. and will have to
send troops to Homestead again.
1t may be that Mr.. Frick may be able to
run the mills without the protection of the
troops. He certainly has the legal right to
pay what wages he pleases and to employ
such men as be wants The whole power
OF the state and the national government is
bound to sustain him in doing so.
But the locked-out workmen have their
homes at Homestead and they have helped
the Carnegie association to build up its
great business there. Although they have
no legal right TO an arbitration of the differ
ences between them and the association,
they have some ground for asking for one.
Even Mr.. Carnegie thinks that arbitration
should be adopted In the settlement OF labor
troubles when such troubles cannot be 9TH
erwise smicably adjusted. Not long ago,
in an article In one Of the magazines, he
said: II consider that of all the agencies
Immediately available to prevent wasteful
and embittering contests which cannot be
otherwise averted between capital and
labor, arbitration is the most powerful and
most beneficial"
When Mr. Cleveland was President there
was a strike on the Missouri Pacific railroad
which involved large number OF men aid
was 30 remarkable for violence that it at
tracted the attention Of the whole country.
In a message to congress he suggested the
creation of "a com mission Of labor consist
ing Of three members. who shall be regular
officers Of the government, charged, among
other dutiess With the consideration and
settlement, when possible, Of all controver.
sizes between labor and capital"
AS the organizations of workmen increase
In number labor troubles will be more diff
cult to adjust, because Of the confidence
which the organizations will have in their
strength. While the troops may at all times
be able to enforce the law, vast amount OF
damage may be done before they can be
transported to the scene Of the disturbance.
II there was q natioasl labor commission
there would be no violence before decision
of the commission and the courts, backed
by the whole power Of the governments,
would enforce the decision. Such scenes Of
violence as those seen at Homestead and at
the mines in Idaho would not occur.