Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-07-26
Break the Power of Monopoly.

disastrously to the railroaders in the
west, declared a quarterly dividend of 2
per cent on Friday. The claim of the
Pullman Company, when questioned by
the employees as to the cause of repeated
reductions in their wages, was that the
car works were being run at loss for
nearly year past. The company, never
theless, has paid its stockholders divi-
dends amounting annually to or more
per cent for years, and how this could be
done if the shops were run at loss is
something which does not explain itself.
A fixed principle with corporations
managed by Pullman and such men is
that certain dividend must be paid
yearly. In times of depression, like the
past year, this money comes from in
creased charges to consumers or from
the wages of the employees. In Pull
mans case it came from the latter, from
those who, by the company's own state
ments, were not earning enough to live
honest lives, but the dividend which
was declared last Friday had to be paid,
and what did it matter, thought Pull
man, if a score of lives were lost and the
business of the nation paralyzed SO long
as corporation rule survives.
This power of monopoly, of which the
Pullman strike was notable instance, is
a question that is forcing itself upon the
statesmen of the country, but it has not
yet been given that attention and discus
sion which it demands. The United
States is rapidly drifting towards the
stage of discomfort which prevails so
largely in the countries of Europe and
Asia. There was time when Ameri-
cans proudly boasted of their free and
happy country" That boast is now but
seldom heard, except at the banquets of
millionaires. The phrase has fallen into
disrepute because circumstances belle its
truthfulness. The laborers and the
farmers of America are not what it says.
Men are not free when they must work
for whatever wages Mr.. Pullman or any
other man decides they shall receive,
and they are certainly not happy when
they will face the guns of government
soldiers in their mad struggle to help
one another in their fight for what they
think is right.
The intelligence of the country must
soon grapple with the question and learn
the cause of the increased poverty on
the one side and the accumulated riches
on the other. That the people are dis
contented, and are yearly becoming
more so, whether Democrats or Repub-
licans rule, is too plain to be any longer
denied. The recent outbreaks at Chicago
should not be passed over lightly. The
smouldering fire that is visible in the
ranks of workingmen will not be quench-
ed by calling hot-headed Debbs an
anarchist, and his incarnation in Chicago
Jail will not dampen the revolutionary
spirit that has been awakened among
his followers. They may already be
anarchists, but if they are not they will
be unless more just and equitable con-
ditions prevail in the near future.
Why did not the men at Pullman, OF
at any point where work troubles arise
refuse to accept reductions, longer hours
or the various disturbing factors which
appear on the surface to be the causes Of
disputes between capital and labor anC
instead of striking and calling Other
workers to strike in sympathy, why die
they not 90 elsewhere and better theil
condition? Because the situation is the
same, in more or less degree, the
world over. This being the case, work
ingmen are told that it is Gods will tha
they should remain poor, meek anC
humble, and not be given the fruits o.
their labor. They hear it from the pul
pit, the press and from those who have
risen from among themselves. But is i
so?
Suppose the men at Pullman, wher
they found their wages did not suit them
walked few miles west or north OF
south, and coming to the broad and bare
prairies of Illinois they there resolved
to earn their living as livings were earn
ed before car shops existed-by apply
ing their labor to the land, that great gifr
from God, which is as important to life
as the air or water. 1t is the source ot
all wealth, and figure it out as you may
you will find that all creatures derive
their substance from it.
Arriving at the unoccupied land, mil
lions of which can be seen in nearly
every state in the union, what would the
men of Pullman fnd2 Probably tres
pass notices, calling attention to the fac
that the owner, who may be lord Of
England or one of the Pacific Railroad
Companies, warns all persons to keep of
that land, or perhaps they can buy it al
an exhorbitant price. Let them 90 far
ther west or north or east or south, and
the same danger signals will confront
them