New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-28
THE LEHTGH DILLET STRIKE

The Lehigh Valley Railroad strike IL appar-
emily about 10 end as so many irrational at
tcmpts 10 upset the law of supply and demand
have ended in the past. The company has al
ready set the current Of traffic moving again.
and within Il few days there will probably be
no signs OF the conflict left. excepting the idle
ness aud distress Of many individuals who were
dcludcd into believing that they could improve
their condition by leaving their duties undone.
Right-mindcd persons will feel no inclination
TO exult In the swift defeat and prospective
suffering Of those who have lost their places
and now find themselves without means OF sup.
port NJ the beginning Of winter. Indignation
will be- reserved for the leaders who ordered a
great body Of Industrious men TO stop work,
llcceiving them with assurances which could
misconceptiOn OF pcrvcrsion Of plain facts.
Strikes of similar origin have successfully
failed year after year under conditions far more
favorable To the discontinued. How could any
sensible man imagine for Il moment that this
latest attempt could succeed when thousands Of
capable men were idle against their viii and
eagerly looking for employment? How could
any man iii TO be- the leader Of n labor organ
zation advise his followers 10 begin conflict
at such time rs this and encourage them with
the hope Of success!
The fact IL that no man who Is III for such
leadership gave such advice. Every officer of 4
labor union who helped TO bring about the
Lchigh strike thereby convicted himself Of utter
or gross wickcdness. I'nhappIly this
Is not an unfamiliar disclosure Of foolish and
constituencies leadership. II Is merely The
latest In Il long and mournful series. and the
worst Of IL Is that there Is little reason to sup
pose that it will he the last. With the cXcep-
ton of locomotive engineers. who have usually
been guided by men of sober judgment and
strong intelligence. the railroad operatives
Of this country have for many years been the
most unfortunate victims of evil counsel any
where to be found in the ranks of labor. II Is
that such experiences Of humiliation
and discomfort rs they have endured should
have failed completely to teach them the
maty Of their leaders and left them stone
blind to the inevitable consequences of their
own crcluliiy.
Even IL IT we"c TO be admitted that the en-
ploycs Of the Lchgh Company were morally
justified In the position they assumed. they
were gricvOusly sinncd against by those whom |
hey have invested with authority 10 direct |
heir actions. In general. we think that they are |
,nly or chiefly ut fault for committing their
fortunes to the keeping Of autocrats who are
Utterly unworthy Of their confidence. Thus far
he great majority Of them have done nothing |
hat ought to diminish the goodwill of the |
public They have been, with very few exccp-
IONS sober and orderly. We sincerely hope that |
lnder the influence of disappointment and ap-
suffering they will not De- mslcd into |
making their situation worse and their return to
pnest work more difficult. And on the part OF
he company we hope TO see h practical rccogni-
ion Of the moral obligations which superior
Intelligence imposes. This Is not the time TO be
perfectly rigid and unsparing In the treatment
4 men who have broken long record Of iidcl-
ty by n single act Of folly