The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-04
|
The Railroad Boycott.

The strike began with only brief
warning by employees Of the Pullman
Company at Chicago has swiftly involved
a score Of railroads and tens Of thousands
Of operatives, and paralyzed traffic
throughout the western half Of the conti-
nent. Atpresent no positive indications
Of the result are discernible. The rail-
road companies are acting in unison un-
der a strong pledge OF mutual support,
but the labor leaders are inspirited by
their sudden success, and the boycott may
extend still further before it begins 20
contract. But though the strikers are
probably confident Of victory, as they 80
often have been hitherto in the first stage
Of confusion and distress produced by
their concerted action, it Is impossible 70
believe that they VIII win in the end, for
the simple reason that they deserve 10
lose They have instantaneously forfeited
the support Of intelligent public opinion
without which their cause Is hopeless,
and the odds against them viii grow
heavier from day TO day.
A. we have already pointed ont, this
boycott Is utterly irrational. If the en-
ployes who Withdrew from the service Of
the Pullman Company had in reality
been the victims of obvious and odiocs
oppression. the attempt Of the American
Railway Union to redress their wrongs
by stopping the transportation Of freight
and passengers would still be a senseless
and abominable outrage upon all bat a
fragment Of the population thus forced
for no fault whatsoever TO endure serious
loss and Inconvenience. But, as the case
stands. il i sheer idiocy TO imagine that
the millions who are thus affronted and
abused VIII sympathize and cooperate
Mith those at whose hands they suffer.
Mr.. Pullman has made a statement OF
facts which leaves the men who volnntar-
ilv quit work in the shops Of his compa-
ny without an excuse for their bitterness
of feeling. and which must bring upon
the leaders Of the railroad boycott the in
dignant condemnation Of every unpreju-
diced citizen. Mr. Pullman kept his
works open and nearly doubled the force
al work in them at the beginning of the
last hard winter 10y making contracts
which left only a slight margin of possi-
bIe profit at the best and in many cases
involved certain loss. But the men were
ordered 10y their leaders 10 insist that
their wages must be restored 10 the stand
ard Of prosperous times. and when Mr..
| Pullman clearly explained the situation
and the impossibiliiy Of meeting their
wishes f0ur-fiflhs of them struck. The
shops could not be kept in operation with
only fraction of the hands at work. and
Mr. Pullman closed them. doubtless with
an admixtare OF regret and Of relief that
80 great burden OF responsibility had
been lifted from his shoulders.
Then followed fantastic demand that
arbitrators should be empowered to de
termine how heavy loss the Pullman
/ Company could stand, and when il was
rejected in stepped Debs. promoter and
/ head Of the American Railway Union,
eager 10 show his power and achieve no
toriety, and commanded the Transports
| ton companies TO stop hauling Pullman
| cars on penalty Of a tie-uP on every line
refusing 70 obey. The railroad managers
declined To acknowledge Debs' authority.
as they were bound 20 do by every con-
ceirable consideration Of honor and oi
obligation To the public, and the brutal
I infliction of loss and Inconvenience upon
the american people began forthwith
We say with deliberation that il woald
not be more wanton and preposterous
exercise Of the power OF organization il
a general railroad strike were precipitat-
ed because the crew Of a fishing-smael,
We're dissatisfied with their rations.
Il may DE asked how il i possible. II
these statements are true. that tens OF
thousands Of industrious, peaeeablc men
can feel 50 keen sense of wrong as to
incur hardship themselves and infiici
great injury on millions more. The ans
wer is thai they share no such feeling
Again. - uumberless times before, they
unreaeetingIy permit themselves to he
come the instruments and the victims OF
selfish crael and insolent leaders, who
I thrive 0a their losses and discredit. and
crafty de;estable passion for power AT
/ the eonmoa expense. If the glory that
/ Deils c1vets ruins farmers, shippers and
merchants, causes inealcuiabie injury t.
the " hole travelling public and peculiar
distress 70 delicate women and children.
wipes out the savings Of industry and
eventually stSFvss the immediate agents
Of his ambition, 80 much the worse foI
all these, but - much the better for Deirs,
Prom insufferable tyranny like this the
honest vorkingmen of the United States
viii sooner OF later free themselves. The
present boycott ought to bet the beginning
/ Of the end.