Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1894-07-05
THE GREAT STRIFE.

Interest in congress, the tariff bill, the
Fourth OF July, everything, has been di-
verified during the past week to the strike
in which the country is now involved; the
greatest and most widespread it has ever
witnessed. At the command OF one man
the employees OF half 4 hundred railroads
have laid down their work, regardless OF
the Inconvenience, suffering and loss Of
an innocent public; compelling women
and children in delayed trains to suffer
hunger and thirst; compelling Il woman
and her child to travel more than hund.
red miles on hand car in order to reach
dying husband. And why? Because
in Chicago the employees Of Il manufac-
turer Of cars have gone out on a strike,
and in order to force Pullman to meet the
demands OF the strikers. Debs, at the head
of the American Railway Union, elatcd
by their recent victory over the Great
Northern, thought to fight Pullman (and
as he puts it bankrupt HIM over the
heads of the railroad companies.
The Pullman car shops had been rum
ming since last October under reduced
wages, it is true, but every dollar earned
had been paid to the men, nothing being
saved for dividends on capital or for wear
and tear OF machinery. The men de-
manded more, which meant that the
company should either borrow the money
or impair its capital. TO enforce this
demand Dcbs ordered the boycott on all
roads using Pullman cars. The fight has
gone far beyond Pullman, and is now a
contest between a few leaders, fighting for
their regulations, who would establish
the principle Of the boycott, as against the
whole mass of society who realize that if
that principle is once esta blished it will
then be an easy matter to crush any
mans business against whom another
may have a grievance.
Chief Arthur, of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers, recognizes this,
says they have no grievance, and warns
the brotherhood to guard against the
"fever," and to remain at their posts.
The members OF the American Railway
whole truth, will refuse to longer uphold
the boycott. They are now only obeying
orders, without knowing the reason, and
as one of them puts it "guess the bosses
know what they are doing"
In this strike the contest between capt.
tai and labor has no part or parcel, but it
is simply whether or not the despotism
OF a few leaders can compel the people to
sanction the crushing of one man in the
name OF labor. Though this strike shall
fail, as all others do where violence is re-
resorted to, yet out OF it there will doubt
less come some legislation that will facil-
itate the settlement OF differences between
capital and labor. In this instance the
United States has been compelled to take
hand to protect property which was
under the charge Of her courts, and also
to insure the delivery Of her mails, and
out OF this, doubtless, there will come
United States courts OF conciliation to
settle differences affecting interstate COM
merce; and state and municipal courts OF
Cancellation or arbitration to settle diff
crenccs under state and local jurisdiction.
The problem Of the ages has been the
proper adjustment of rights between man
and man. Unless the application OF the
golden rule solves it sooner it will doubt
less be the problem for ages to come. We
believe the American people, who know
liberty as no other nation, will soon apply
that rule SO that the liberty Of capital and
the liberty of labor will find happy
meeting ground where they can enjoy a
common fellowship. Not through strikes
and boycott's, brought to our shores by
socialistic teachings, but by the white
winged angel of peaceful adjudication Of
tribunals that shall judge righteously,
and whose judgment shall be assented to
by the people.