The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-17

Who warmly advocated the last strike We
infer that the Iaboring men generally are
reaching the conclusion that mere 81 M
pashy for fellow workman In one branch
of trade i. hardly snf5csent iussaneation
| for q strike in another branch Further
more. the paramount consideration Tor
the success Of any strike 10 TO have on IT'S
side public sympathy aud support; ana 70
secure this nos only the grievances OF the
workmsn must oe great, eus the stFixs
must be conducted without violence.
The failure prosperity Of the iaboring
man does not lie, sherefors. IN perpetual
warfare With capital; for these TWO eie-
ments ara mutually dependent IN every
operation Of production. Ia the present
organization OF society the capitalist Is a.
essential TO the Iaborer IS the iaborer Is 20
the capitalist: and TO perpetuste feud
between them Is 70 put an end to ooin ike
the tabled lions which devoared each
other. leaving nothing but their tails be-
hind. IL Iies rather through such political
organization or party - has a. heart the
welfare Of the laborer - well a. that OF
the capitalist II the manufacturer had
today the encouragement that the govern
ment has given 10 production in numerous
instances of her past history. the reasons
for strikes would for the most part b re-
moved. Prosperity TO capital means pros
perity to labor; and the party that isgis-
Iates In favor of home production II the
true friend Of the laboring man. The dis
81 -h n
home industries is wholly. partly, or In no
wise at the expsnss of the consumer. is not
o question deserving much consideration
when the laborer IL without employ ment,
and therefore without the means Of pur-
chasing at any price.
II the American workmen. instead Of
organizing for the sole purpose Of carrying
on strikes. which In their very essence are
cessation of labor and an interruption to
industry. and which are generally unsuc-
cessful by reason of lack OF public SYM
patty and the almost certain violence at
tending or concluding them, would unite
themselves 70, and thus work through the
political party whose actual legislation
gives q guarantee of the sincerity of its
professions, their organization would be
much more effective in dignifying labor,
diffusIng knowledge and improving the
condition Of the lsborer. 1t il only when
the laborer, the capitalist and the govern
ment are In harmony and work together
for the common good that general pros
perity reaches its greatest extension and
labor receives its best reward.
There Is also another field which has
been but slightly explored, but in which
labor can find abundant means for inn
proving its condition. It Is the field of
mutual association OF workmen in indus
trial pursuits. While capital is essential to
the best results from productive industry.
IL Is within the power of the wortmen
themselves to supply through organization
the needed capital. This has been tried
in nearly oil countries and in nearly all
branches Of trade, and the general success
which has attended such attempts at re-
moving the independent capitalist and
uniting capital and labor in strictly COM
mon interest, has placed such undertake
ings beyond the stage OF experiment, and
assures their future success when managed
with industry and intelligence. One
needs, indeed. but to read the history of
such undertakings in European countries
and in our own to be convinced. The
literature on these organizations is abund-
ant. The careful reading and discussion
of such books as Ovens and Fueguray's
would be of great benefit to all classes, and
would no doubt lead TO further develop
ment of this new method of industrial pur-
suit. Such conferation, therefore, OF
lsboring men. whose object would be the
concentration and productive employ.
ment of their own savings, would give
great Impulse to industry. and afford an
effective means by which labor could right
its wrongs without the Intervention of
destructive strikes.