St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-18

osition than appears at first glance-a
danger not latent, but active, and cal
Culated to disturb seriously both our
political and economic systems. The
existence OF the trust fund which 1t Is
proposed to create would of itself be a
strong temptation to indulgence in OK
pensive. unne cessary and embarrassing
strikes. Unfortunately there are among
the several trades few men who live
and fare sumptnously upon the conflicts
that arise between capital and labor.
They are known as organizers, walking
delegates, and by other names. They
are generally men of good Intelligence
and great craft. They are consumed
with love for the tOilers. and, if they are
to he believed. would sacrifice all they
possessed to benefit their craft. But
they seldom or never work. They re-
celve good pay from the unions, and all
their expenses are paid. But they
would NOT long exist if it were not for
the strikes that occasionally take place.
On such occasions they shine cOnspic-
uously. They are marshals of the
forces-generals of brigades and COM
mahderS of divisions. Their voice IS
heard on every side, cheering onward
the belligerenJ hosts, encouraging the
tlmld, eXhorting The doubling, threat
ening those who are inclined to act upon
their own convictions OF duty. A GEN.
trail fund. set apart for the maintenance
OF strikes. such as the fund proposed,
would he great thing for these men.
Their maintenance in luxury would
then be assured beyond peradventure.
Ihis fund would be apt to stimulate
strikes by holding out promises of ulti-
mate success and immunity from the
privations that now so frequently follow
such demonstrations. But this would
hardly compensate the toilers for the
losses to which they would be subjected
by the precipitation Of unnecessary and
avoidabIe strikes.
1t is no doubt desirable that a fund
should be maintained to carry forward
necessary strikes. There are frequently
such outburstS -rebeiliOnS against OBJ
pressIve regulations, insufficient pay or
arbitrary conduct on the part of EN-.
ployers. But it is questionable if the
benefits derived in such strikes from
the fund proposed would compensate
for the perpetual turmoil into which
the labor world would be plunged. The
suggestion is that OF the professional
laborers of the country, not of the act
ual workers of the men who make the
agitations that distract the country
means Of profit to themselves, and who
fnr ba Iii.
the political knave cares for his dupe.
There is already too large number OF
such men who are fattening on the
woes of others, and they have begun to
quarrel among themselves. The greed
OF those recently at the head of the
Knights of Labor organization left but
little for their successors to seize, and
the ordinations and determinations that
are now being INDUCED in seem likely
TO eliminate in the disruption of the Or
der. Sovereign is charging Powderly
with malfeasance in Office, and the lat
ter retorts with charges of mercenary
designs entertained by his successor. If
the disputes shall end without general
abandonment of the order to its fate, or
autocratic than the present plan, its
last days will be obscured by scandals
both odorous and odious.
The hazard of stimulating the strik-
ing mania is one that should not be
overlooked by those having in contem-
plation the establishment of a trust
fund for the aid of strikers. These are
times in which it is more preferable to
be in the frying pan than in the fire.