The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-30
A FORMIDABLE CRISIS.

1t is very hard. indeed. to try to pass
dispsssionate judgment as to all phases
OF the great strike which is now on. AS
to the merits OF the original dispute
between the officials OF the American
Railway union and the Pullman Car
company, the HERALD placed itself very
fully on record five or six weeks ago.
Our verdict at that stage of the contro-
versy was entirely against the Pullman
people, and we have frequently reiterat-
ed our original views since. The career
of George NJ. Pullman and his various
schemes OF spoliation is very familiar to
the people of the United States. The
company has frequently had itself writ
ten up in illustrated and other articles,
in which its great merits have been pro-
claimed, but the underlying principle of
the whole OF the project of the town of
Pullman was greed. We have shown
this phase of the matter too often and
too deliberately to make it necessary
that we should agsin refer to it in de-
tail. The asserted necessity of paying
large dividends on heavily wstered
stocks is at the bottom Of the contro-
yersy between Pullman and hia ann
ployses.- He has not only aimed to
"cinch" the latter but to incommode
the public. The only idea which the
worlds fair,suggested to this arch spoil
ator was that there was an opportunity
both to gouge his workmen and to fleece
the travelling public-a sort OF "cross-
saw" operation that would have de-
lighted Shylock.
But in the last few days the question
has entirely transcribed its original
proportions. and it is not now 30 much
whether Pullman or his employees shall
win, as to whether the whole business
| of the United States shall be dieorgan-
lied, That we are already face to face
with this issue on the Pacific coast, and
quite notably 80 in Los Angeles is ap-
parent. 1t is said that the supply of fuel
! in this city ia quite limited with an m
evitable arrangement of many business
enterprises necessarily following upon
the heels of any prolonged strike. Up
till the hour at which wo write the
/ Terminal and Redondo railways are
available to increase our supply OF fuel.
How long this will continue We do not
know. 1t is said that the electric rail-
wav has q supply of coal and oil suffic-
lent to last it a month. This ia q great
alienation of the situation, and will al
low people to get around without eny
great Inconvenience.
It is scarcely conceivable that the
strike will last long. The sympathies
of no portion OF the public we're OF any
time with the Pullman company. The
grasping seldahness OF that corporation
has always been we'll understood. But
if the present strained situation should
continue long, very few people will have
any sympathy with the strikers. Great
interests are suffering in California.
Should the strike continue for few
DAYS longer we are told that Thousands
of fruit growers will be ruined. Much
of their crop is just in the right stage for
shipment, and every days continuance
OF the strike causes an enormous loas.
Everyone suffers with the fruit growers,
although, perhaps, not to 80 great an
extent. Under the circumstances few
are able to see why tina dispute with the
Pullman company should have been al
lowed TO work such universal distress
and loss. Tne public 10 in no condition
to listen to long winded arguments about
the methods by which the strikers ex'
pect to win. Tney feel that the fight
ought t. have been simpli6ed. and az
few people affected as possible.
We are inclined to hops for an early
adjustment OF the controversy, although
both parties in interest talk very conf
IDENTIFY. There is unqusstionably q feel
ing amongst portion of the American
Railway union shat the stlike ough.
not to have been extended to thu mails
or to freight. No one certainly, outside
OF that organ;z,tion has the slightest
sympathy with that peremp tory action.
The mass OF the sufsting cotamuni!y,