Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-08-31
EUGENE ". DEBBs VS.. U. s. A.


perity and aflluence to the largest number.
If such are the products of labor strikes, then
we say strike. and repeat them. But If they
have proved a curse 10 the country, to its in
dustries, TO all classes of people, waste of
time and energy, ruin TO life and property,
and unrest, want, poverty and sorrow, not
only to the helpless and innocent, but into
the homes of strikers, terror TO community,
rapine. conhagration. an uncomfortable mob
shouting their loud mouthed defiant declara-
tions against law, order and all authority for
keeping the peace, if such are the fruits OF
labor strikes. as the shameful history of the
last II years bears testimony, they should re-
ceive not only the indignant disapproval,
but the just condemnation of all good citi-
zens, who are forced to the conclusion that
the only justifable strike is that of the
policeman CLUB welded in the restoration
of peace and maintenance of good order.
The leaders of labor agitation pretend
TO Justify on the ground that labor Is not
properly remunerated. If that were so, II
would be lamentabe, indeed. But we must
not lose sight of the fact, that, under the
DItStul Slhlt VI eOCltiys ltObIs llht NOiilAilON-
tiles, is governed by the law of demand and
supply. II society ever reaches that exalted
state of development when we shall IN fact
and deed love our neighbor as ourselves, then
labor will be something more than COM
modify; it will also be a personality, and not
governed simply by what it will bring in the
market, but by what it is worth TO the en-
ployer. But society has not attained that
high state of excellence, nor will it under
the present system of labor organization.
Until labor organization builds upon the
sure foundation of peace, ii can never attain.
nor look for, the highest benefits that are in
store for it. That part of the organization
that tolls and performs the manual labor has
other burdens than the support of the family
and "house rent. Under the system, uni
versal strikes are not ordered for the reason
that those who are left al work are subjected
to assessments for the support Of those or
dered ont. Another burden, quite as impor-
tant to the managers as "house rent, and
that is their salaries. We're there but few
organizations to control all classes of labor,
the salary burden would be comparatively
light But that would never do; there are
two many who like position and enjoy lucra
tive salaries. And TO satiate the greed o.
these parasites all classes of labor are d-
vided and subdivided multum al iuhnitum.
For example, take the business of railroads;
The conductors, the locomotive engineers.
the brakemen, the iremep, the switchmep,
the yardmen, the freightmen, ETC.. and 50 OF
other classes of labor, each having their chief
and subordinate, swarms of officers TO harasS
the lives of the toiling laborers and eat OF
their substance-a system of the most abject
servitude, under self imposed obligations to
their officials, more binding because self i'm
posed than that of the slave to his master
under involuntary servitude. And while the
obligations are self imposed they are not in
many Instances, voluntary. \ non union
man desiring employment in some of the
various crafts jeopardzes his life by making
application before joining the labor organ
ization, and allowing himself to become a
self constituted slave, through intimidation.
The true American, after the stamp of Pat
rick Henry is standing out, excaiming give
me liberty or give me DEATH Since the late
labor strike the non unions are coming to
the front, and new organizations will be
likely to follow, putting foremost in their
obligations loyal support of the constitu-
ton of the state and government, cutting
short the spirit of anarchy, that has been so
prominent in our labor troubles. The late
strike at Pullman was not the result of dis
content among the workmen. After a con-
mittee of their own appointment had exam
ined the company's books and contracts for
labor, and satisfied itself that the expense OF
material and labor to build car was more
than the company could realize for the CON-
pleted car delivered under the contract price.
On report of the committee all seemed satis-
ned and resumed labor. Debbs saw his OPP
portunity, and on the day following recruite i
the Pullman forces into his new order, ana
then commanded a walk-out; and they did,
to the sorrow of hundreds of them whose
places were filled by the non unions, anxious
to labor for the same hire. Then followed
the hue and cry for ARBITRATION. Why did
they not ask for investigations Simply be
cause the committee so appointed had, on the
day previous to the walk-out, examined the
company's books and papers. and were salts
fed of their correctness. Arbitration meant
more than investigation. 1t meant for Pull
man Co. to enter into bonds to abide the de-
cision of the arbitrator, whether favorable
or adverse. The company, knowing it was
doing losing business, could better afford
to close down for the time, and employ the
women and girls who refuse to 90 out, Civ
ing them an opportunity to clean and oil the
machinery, and have 1t ready as soon as the
non union force was sufficient to start up,
which was done before the strike was de-
clared off At Homestead, July 1892, in a
strike that fermented into the most gigantic
murderous mobs of the times, eighteen per-
sons were shot down dead and between
twenty and thirty wounded besides the at
tempted assassination of III. g. Frick, the
manager of the works, who was shot and
stabbed In his own Office by an anarchist
OF New York. The strike was not declared
off until Nov. goth, at which time the works
we're running with new hands. In Deceem-
Der it was revealed, that one of the cooks,