The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-21
RAILROADS AND STRIKERS.

The communication in another COLI
umn on the situation of the railroad
companies and the men who have en-
gagged III the strike, states the matter
very clearly. There is no denying the
facts or the conclusions therein set
forth. But as there are always two
sides to a question there is something
connected with this subject that is
worthy TO be considered.
The strike may be considered over.
What remains are only the mutteringsof
thunder after the tempest is past, with
an occasional little flash of lightning or
a gust or two of wind The railroad
defeated. Debs has made a terrible
mess of it. He has demonstrated to
thoughtful men his incapacity as a
leader in a great movement, and his
lack of understanding of the true rela-
ton between employers and the en-
ployed. The striking men are out and
most Of them are at the mercy of the
railroad managers.
Now what should be done to them?
Ought the railroad people to be rigidly
unmerciful? Or should there be some
magnanimity, regulated by discretion?
This is the side of the matter we de-
sire briefly to draw attention to. Stern
justice might say, firmly, 1.-The strikers
have made their bed, now let them lie
in it," But sweet Mercy. if permitted
to plead, would interpose and mildly
suggest that there is a wide difference
in the conduct and position of some Of
the strikers to that of others, and the
same treatment to all would scarcely
be fair, and some discrimination would
be both kind and wise
1t is not to be expected that the rail-
way companies will take back any man
who has Joined in the attempts made
to destroy property, to injure other
workmen, or to prevent in any way,
other than merely ceasing to labor, the
continuation of the business of the
railroads. But there are sober, steady,
efficient men, who have simply obeyed
the call of the union leader under the
rules of the organization to which they
belonged, and have quit work at a crit
ical time. They are out of employment,
their families are needing support and
they have defeat as we'll as pecuniary
loss for their pains.
Thai is the class which we venture
to hope will receive some magnani-
nous consideration from the railway
Where there are vacancies
yet open, may they not be filled by such
men without lessening the dignity of
the officers or doing violence to any
of the companies?
OF course they will not be employed
with any reference to their union affili-
atoms. The companies have had
enough Of the A. r. U. It can only be.
as capable workmen who have commit
ted no overt act against law and order.
The fact that in the view Of unbiased
people they have acted foolishly and
submitted themselves slavishly to the
dictation of one man, is scarcely to be
counted as a crime or to be punished as
1t was an error of judg-
ment and who is entirely free from
that?
Inc Herald mas no apology IOI the
strike and no excuse for the strikers.
1t is as a matter of magnanimity and
policy that we make these suggestions.
Men who have stood by the railroads
in this peril should be retained. Those
who have gone beyond the limits of
law and good order need not be con-
sidered. But should the companies lay
down a rigid rule as to all the strikers
who would not return to work at the
time specified and exclude them from
We think that a wise
and a merciful course
toward the class we have described
would prove in the end as advantage
Gus to thee ompanies as to the men
themselves. Let US have peace.