Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-07-12

The Railway Strike.
The great strike which has caused
a paralysis Of public business and
which has threatened the peace and
well-being Of society is not a strike in
the interest Of organized labor. The
true interest Of organized labor can
not be promoted by resistance to
the laws and rebellion against the
authority Of the government.
Generally it may be said there is
public sympathy with the strikers,
even when the motive Of the strike
does not commend itself to the judg-
ment Of the public. But when strik-
ers coniound the rights Of the public
with the interests Of their employers
and undertake to override the rights
Of the public as il the public should
succor the strikers, without regard
to whether their position Is right or
wrong, or else suffer for failure to do
80, such strikers not only antagon-
lie the sympathies Of the pubic but
they become common lawbreakers
and criminals, and are entitled to
no more consideration than Is shown
any other sort OF vicious and danger
Gus yiolators Of law.
The present railroad strike is one
OF the most foolish and iniquitous
ever ordered in this country. 1t is
arbitrary, arrogant and without
shadow Of justification. 1t is abb
solutely inexcusable from any ration
al standpoint Of equity, justice or
morals.
Without the slightest pretense OF
any individual grievance against tho
railroads, between $4,000 and $4,000
men have deliberately thrown them
selves out OF the employ Of the COM
panies and wantonly and recklessly
interfered with the public and pri-
vate business Of the people, subjected
them to endless annoyance, and in
convenience, cut off their supplies OF
provisions, obstructed the mails, and
called thousands of men from work
they were glad to do for their en-
ployers, against whom they had no
grievance, driving them through
forced idleness to misery and want.
But they have not stopped at peace
fully retiring from labor themselves.
They have by intimidation theats
and personal violence attempted to
prevent others who desire to work
from doing so. They have wantonly
and maliciously destroyed the
property Of their former employers and
have reasonably deded the author
tiles OF the United States govern
ment.
The indications are that the strike
will end as have nearly all other sim
liar outbreaks-in failure. 1t may be
considered certain that Mr.. Pullman
will not hire any men at q loss, no
matter how many roads are tied up
unless he wishes to. 1t may also be
assumed that Uncle Sam will keep
peace among his discordant children.
This government is big enough and
powerful enough to compel obedience
to its laws and it will see to it that
the laws are enforced. The element
instrumental in the outrages Of the
past week is dangerous and should be
throttled at any cost,
Thousands Of employees will at the
close OF the strike find themselves out
of positions which have been paying
them good wages. Tens Of thous-
ands have lost two or three weeks
pay amounting in the aggregate to an
immense sum taken from the laboring
men. The strike is failure from
every point Of view, and disgrace to
American labor. 1t but points anew
the moral
The remedy for labor difficulties is
the ballot, not the bullet; compulsory
arbitration. not strikns