The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-11-17
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
STATISTICS AS TO WHEN THEY
HAV: CLASEED.
Tho iisst Strixc Occurred In 1890 aiid
since That Time Labor - sturi,nnGes
Have shown AN Alarm hA Ihcrcas6
Government Isues l.oar To Banks.
Ttc S;at;st.CS o: Labor Strikes.


In recent number the Age Of Steel,
published at st. Louis, the editor Of
that very reliable journal presents a
history of labor strikes in the United
States. He says that The first strike
occurred in 1896. AMI that from that
cate till 1896 there were nine strikes,
From 1886 to 1912 there were fifteen
strikes. From 1912 to 1880, only
three, and from 1850 20 1858, none.
From 1868 to 1876 there were thirty
four strikes. From 1876 to 1880 here
We're 762. From 1880 to 1885 til, IL
were 1902 strikes, in which -, 30l
establishments and l,3o3 900 working
men We're involved.
From 1856 to the middle of this
year, period of five and a half years,
there have been in tia rountry 90
G26 labor strikes Summarizing tl.is
statement, we iinl that from 1896 to
1868. a reriol of se"eniytwo years.
there were only twentv-ssycn strikes,
That during the mex. eight years. GS
to 40, there VT TT thirty to;r S rlkes-
seven more in hose eight years than
In the Preceding scventy-two years.
Contraction policy and the demone-
tizition of the silver dollar had begun
to be felt. But the effects of that un=
wise and unius. legislation had only
begun 10 he felt in 1876. During the
four years from 1876 TO 1850, 7t2 labor
strikes occurred in this country, or
more than twenty times as many in
those four years as in the scvcntv-years
before.
This was an alarming increase. But
If that was alarming, what shall we say
OF the increase of strikes during the
]ast five and half years? Instead Of
1902, We have had O.52t;. or more
than four times as many as ,uring the
previous ninety years.
The worl strike is defined Ivy Wor-
cester's Dictionary:
ITO cease from work IN order to eX-
hort higher wages as workmcn: to dis
abev; TO revolt: to mutiny."
The strike is properly described rs
an act of war, as 1t Is resorted to after
civil measures have failed. The
strikers have real or imaginary gricv-
nnccs. They believe themselves the
victims of injustice or tyranny, or both,
anu they believe that the only possible
means of relief lies in open revolt
against their unjust and oppressive
employers. and this remedy will fail
them if others are found to take the
places they filled: hence, ii any per-
sons offer to take their places, such
persons are regarded bv item as foes.
THIS leads to conflict, in some cases.
and the armed force of the state Is
called upon to put down the strikers,
anl protect their former cm, loyers
and their new employees against thei,
violence. Thus tie strikers come ln:o
conflict with the state.
While strikes were OF rare occur
renee, and while but few men were in
volyed in them. the state could sue
ccssful deal with them. But should
strikes continue 20 increase at the
resent ratio it will be bnt few years
till the strikes will be numbered by
millions: indeed, will outnum,,cr any
state or national force tina. could be
brought against them. Then would
civil Government be Mt an enl; then
would anarchy prevail throughout the
country.
TIE remedy is to he found in re-
peal of all unjust laws as will force 9
more equitable division of the products
of labor than now prevails.
The continuance for % few year:
longer of the policy of the Democrat.
and Republican parties cannot fail tt
precipitatc upon rs bloody revolu
tion, for they are both the defender:
of the plutocrats and the foes of th'
working men.