Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-07-13
The Folly orStrikes.

We do not question the I tct that iaooi1is
often have grievances against their en-
ployars and We admire iheir spirit Ia
NOT allowing themselves to be driven
into measures as so many dumb driven
cattle" They have the undoubtei right
u organize societies. to baai together
for the protection If their rights against
the often unreasonable, nay, erue, dc
mands of capital, but when the former
allow reason to become iethrouei and
In their madness give way to all sorts Of
nwless conduct, in the eyes of the
law they become criminals aud public
feeling at once centrliizes against them.
The only feasible mode of settling
difficulties between capital and labor in
this country is by arbitration. Capitalists
in any emergency can live while The la
borer, if not employed, must come to
want; therefore. it is selt-evident tina
in any arbitrary fight by labor against
capital the latter eau stand the strain
longest and the former must inevitably
submit The truth Of such reasoning
has been shown in every strike that has
taken place in this country. In the case
Of the miners Of this State. The proof Of
this fact is conclusive. and the strike
now in active progress in Chicago will
become a still stronger object lesson. r.
The miners instead Of seeking through
the channels of peaceful arbitration
proper adjustment, with due conside-
ration for the hard times prevailing of
fair wage schedule, because ola reduc-
ton Of their wages in a body, became
sullen, refused to work, and resorted to
the alternative Of forcing their employ
ers into measures The result is too
fresh in the mind of every one to need
reiteration. After weeks of want and
suffering they have been compelled to
accept the conditions at first imposed
coupled with the painful knowledge that
many of the leaders in their unfortunate
course will never he received back again
into the favor of their former friends,
and must tear up their homes and 60
elsewhere to seek livelihood which lat
ter misfortune could have been averted
had peaceful solution of the trouble
been adopted instead of the course pur-
sued, The strikers in Chicago aad 9TH
er portions Of the West will suffer even a
worse fate. Public sympathy, because
Of there shameful lowlessness has been
withdrawn, some of them have beer
shot TO death, others wounded an,
MANNED for life, many will be punish
ed for their criminal conduct, and severa
will never again be received in employ
ment BY the man, much Of whose prop
erty they have so recklessly destroyed
and whose rights to dc as he pleases
with his own, they have SO ruthlessly
sought to ignore; while the residue ii
the end will be compelled to submit to q
reduction of wa ;es, or go without EN-,
ployment altogether.
Laborers, as class, are a trusting
minimizing body, and can be governed
easily, and as a result are often lee
into error by scheming strategists, who
for the sake of notoriety, or selfish gair
inveigle themselves into the high
er places in lauor organizations and be
come self constituted leaders, withou
the first idea os what constitutes leader
ship, and bring misery and ruin upor
those whose destiny they have in charge
Such seems to have been the case witt
the labor organizations in the West. \
man named Debs, late offspring from
the Democratic party-shrewd, sehem'
ing and without the first con
cepticn of leadership, has undertaken
the task by lawlcss modes to prevent
reduction of the wages of some Of hu
followers. Instead of helping them b,
has visited upon them untold injury.
The manifold system of free education
in this country oughs now to be hayin!
its Influence upon every grade of society
The laboring classes can read and under
stand for themselves condition
and ought to be capable of dealing
with it without the aid of demagogues
theorists and cranks, and if they vii
but put their Judgment to the test the,
will fare much better. 1t is unreasona
Bile to suppose wages can be as high an,
employment as easily obtainabe durini
period of business depression as whel
conditions are to be opposite. aud W
have no doubt if laborers were let alon
they would readily at all times conpre
bend the situation of the affairs of tn
country aud act in all cases with GOO
Judgment.
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The administration has determine
that the whole military power Of tn
government shall be used, if necessary