The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-01
THE STRIKE.
An Evidence of Progress.

There is great pretense of fear on the
| part Of our daily press that the strike is a
menace to our free institutions, and that
law backed up by force must be invoked
| 10 suppress it at once. To the intelligent
reader this is mere nonsense: the strike is
| the reverse OF a menace to free institu-
| tons, but On the contrary is a sure indica-
tlon OF natiCnal progress. Look over the
map of the world, and in every nation
where there are no labor organizations
there is governmental tyranny on one hand
and ignorance, apathy and wretchedness
on the other, While the standing of every
nation in the scale of progression is indi-
Gated by the number and form of organ
lzatlons, and the size and duration of the
strike.
The cause of the strike is only blind and
greedy opposition to the rights of the Ia
borer to share of the benefits of modern
power of production, and when the laborer
is denied the right to this share, it reacts
on the merchant and manufacturer, de-
stroying the market for his wares. No
strike ever took place, or ever will, through
the sheer obstinacy of the employee; if the
employer would be just in showing to his
employe what his share had been in the di-
VISION of the mutual production in the past,
ana his present power to pay larger wages,
or to reason calmly with the men when the
grievance a dispute about fair treat
failed to agree the matter left to
the judgment of a third party, chosen vol
unfairly by the two parties disagreeng, no
strike would ever occur. But the capital
lists demand the right to own and control
an unlimited amount of the common her-
tage of man, the spontaneous offerings of
nature, and the right to acquire and hold
special privileges conferred by ignorant
dishonest officials, leaving a large percent
age of the people with a body emphatlcally
demanding support and the means of sup
port left wholly in the hands of a few cap
italists, We're the people who labor to qui-
city submit to the impositions of capital
slavery is the inevitable result But intel
ligent people will not submit; therefore
there is an "irrepreSSible conflict as the
result, with the strike continually growing
in proportion to the progress of civilization,
until the intelligence of the people solve the
problem by cooperation in production and
distribution, having just laws that acknowl-
edge the equal right of all to the earth, and
preserving all business necessary to the
whole people as a necessary function of
government.
The daily press as a reporter of news has
outgrown it's usefulness. We find in the
Chicago Times the only daily paper we
know Of that dares to publish the news that
the expressions of the iron operators are
still directed towards their employers
and the employees of the coke regions are
still striving for the right to live.
Thomas Lowry has again given us his
monthly assurance of a speedy return to
prosperity. A prophet that guesses right
one time in ten is as nearly infallible as
they average Thomas will now be able to
preserve his laures a prophet by set
ting to work Strengthening the kinks in
his street railway, and at the same time
kill three birds with one stone, viz: Give
us a little prosperity before election en-
deavor to beguie the laboring men back
int ha them
December to feed snowballs and the
promise of prosperity.
There was a meeting of the Socialists
last Sunday afternoon in the Labor Tenn
pie. The room was well filled. Mr.. Lucas
made an address on the evolution of So
cialism, which was frequently applauded.
Dr. Hirshfield then made an address on
the general principals of the society, SHOW
ing conclusively that Socialism meant
peace not war; and plenty not want. His
remarks were received by frequent marks
of approval.
The meetings of the Peoples party clubs
during the past week are too numerous to
mention, and show such a change in po-
litical thought as has not occurred since
1860 A good sign is the fact that many
merchants and small manufacturers are
inquring what has become Of business, and
thinking that Republican policy of 80
years that will not bear continuing under
Democratic rule for two years longer dem
onstrates the necessity for a new policy,
consequently they are coming into the Pop
uliSt fold.
Justice will not fail though ministers OBJ
scure truth in proportion to their salaries.
If Christ said 1900 years ago that 1t was
impossible for a rich nina to enter heaven
as for a camel to pass through the eye of
a needle can the greedy capitalist squeeze
through by paying his minister large
salary to skip that passage of scripture?
We recommend as a pleasant Christian
study the first five verses of James V. An
intimate acquaintance with those passages
on the part of Christians would prevent the
humiliating and narrowing spectacle OF
tramps paupers and unemployed people.
Labor creates wealth. When we have
civilized form of society labor will own all
wealth.
Now idleness feeds to a surfeit and labor
starves When society has fully developed
idleness will starve and labor be rewarded.