The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-07-01
THE PULLMAN BOYCOTT.

1t is difficult to see how the railway
employees can justify their action in the
Pullman boycott, and II is not likely
they will meet with the sympathy usu.
ely accorded labor demonstrations Of
that character. They have no dispute
with their employers, and there Is nc
question OF wages involved that in any
way affects them, yet they voluntarily
refuse to perform the duty for which
they are regularly receiving satisfactory
wages, to the injury and inconvenience
of the general public, and the special
damage Of the employers who will be
held liable T., the courts under their
contracts with the Pullmans. There is
no sacred right or principle involved,
but simply q controversy between a
manufacturing corporation in Chicago
and Its employees as to whether its
business shall be conducted at a loss.
1t will be remembered that at the out
set Of the trouble, the Pullman company
offered to submit their books to the
examination of q committee of the en-
ployes, In order that they might sat
isfy themselves as to the profits Of
the business, but the offer was re-
fused, and no denial of the truth of
the company's claim has been made.
The men who are making the pub
lie suffer and inHicting damage not
only on their employers, but to thous-
ands of other worklngmen whose oc-
equations are lnterfered with by the
tie-up IN the railroads, have no grlev-
ance to redress, and make no COM
plant Of any sort against their em-
ployers. So far as they are personally
concerned, they did not wish to Quit
49,
work, and would be glad to go back
tomorrow; but are restrained by a
strange sense OF fraternal duty to those.
who started the strike. They call their
conduct an expression Of sympathy with
those to whom they are bound by ties
OF mutual service and interest; but
surely It is a perverslon and mockery
Of the sentiment Of sympathy to for
felt their W families means OF sub
s%istence, to cause cause the worst possI-
BILE inconvenience to thousands, and to
bring ruin to many others, solely be-
cause n comparatively few of the best
situated and most skplful mechanics in
the world have failed to obtain the price
they ask for their services from al
Chicago employer. The position Of the
strikers amounts to a conspiracy against
the interests OF the country, and 1t is
not at all improbable that the courts
may be forced to take this view OF It
and the strikers may lind before they
have gone much further that instead of
benehting and upholdlng the principle
OF labor organization. their action has
been a direct injury 70 1t, II laborine
men OF all kinds would do more think
Ing for themselves, and pay less heed to
reckless and often selfish leaders, the
cause Of labor would be more success
full and stand a better chance Of wln-
ming the sympathy OF all classes of
people, The mere sentimental triumph
over Mr.. Pullman hoped for by the in
stigators OF the present trouble, can
only succeed at the expense Of a serious
Interference with the returning pros
perlty OF the country, and the sooner
the strikers realize this and desist from
their undertaking the better 1t win be
for them personally, as well as for all
combinations Of organized labor.