The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-04-21
STRIKES AND LABOR.


carried on by the employees of the Great
Northern is free from many of the objec-
lions usually connected with strikes.
The men have quietly quit work and the
company has so far not tried to fill their
places. Whether the men would resist
such an attempt can not be said. 1t is
to be hoped that the men will be bene-
flied IN their course by the history of
past strikes and not resort to violence.
It is when organized labor forgets the
rights of unorganized labor and disre-
CARDS the rights of property that it loses
the respect and support Of the public.
Undoubtedly the employees of the Great
Northern have as much right to quit
work now as did the employers last Au-
gust to cut che wages. We tail to see
why it is any more wrongful for labor to
act in an organized way than 1t is for
capital to act in an organized way.
An employe so long as he performs the
DUTY for which he is paid in an honorable
and faithful manner has vested inter-
est in the concern for which he works.
It is true that the interest is not meas
urable property interest but an moor
poral right, dependent on the relations
of capital and labor. When that vested
interest is not recognized by the employer
the employee has grievance and when
property ia destroyed or damaged the
employer has cause Of complaint. A
great deal has been said lately about the
legality of strikes, the question has even
been argued in our courts. From a
moral standpoint there is little reason
why railroad employees should be pre-
vented from acting in concert providing
they do not by affirmative acts ipjure
property. But no strike can take place
without negative injury resulting to
the general public, to the strikers and
to the employers, and for this reason
strikes should never be resorted to. All
parties know before the step is taken
that the result will be disastrous to all
concerned. We believe in the economy
Of fair wages, as the economists are wont
to express it, and are in hearty sympathy
with every legitimate effort of labor to
better it's condition. The employees of
the Great Northern have legitimate
grievance. The wages being paid on the
Western divisions of that road are not
sufficient to give satisfactory results
either to the road or the employees. On
der the plea that business has been fall
ing off, beginning with last August sys-
tematic reduction of wages has been car
red on. But however much we believe
IN the justice of the cause Of the strikers,
no cannot agree to the justice and
efficacy of strikers. The history of strikes
n the past shows that the movements
have resulted injuriously to all parties
except the heads of the labor organiza-
;ians who have in many instances gained
power and it is even said wealth at the
expense of the strikers. Labor might
rs we'll be subject to the dictates of a
'ailroad corporation as under the abeo-
ute control OF shrewd, designing labor
eaders; but we believe the present move
nent is free from that objection. It ia q
undertaken by aggrieved
men and not by asingle man. Labor
should organize but it should be in a way
20 benefit labor and not to injure it.
Such beneficial organization is in q
arge sense exemplified by the present
strike. But there remains much that is
Not till labor and capital
IAN settle their differences by arbitration
IAN it be said that labor organizations are
beneficial. When labor is willing to
srbitrate capital should be compelled by
aw to do 80. To work or not to work at
will is not all that strike means.
It means that several thousand men
,uit work at once. In order to be effect
We it means more than that, 1t means
10 work shall be done. Highways Of
;rafic and commerce become inactive and
It once q large section Of country de-
PENDENT upon these highways suffer.
The property invested IN the road be-
comes idle and non productive, yielding
neither profit to the corporation nor
wages 70 the laborer. Mines, mills and
melters shut down Tor the want of sup
lies, their capital : also non ductive