Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-07-06

The fact is the changed condition of
things due to the employment of
steam and the development of ma
chinery demands the REIMBURSEMENT OF
the relations between the two par
ties. We see today great corpo-
rations, which by their wealth and
power are able to crush out weaker
rivals and so become monopolies,
and being mOnOpolies they are able,
unless met by counter organization
on the part of employees. to dictate
terms to the men who work for
them. No doubt some Of these cor
poratiOns are made up of men who
have the interests of their workers
at heart, bnt as corporations exist
for the sake of making money, the
result OF this desire is seen in the at
tempt to get as much out Of the men
as possible with the least possible
outlay in the shape OF wages. When
wOrkinGmen see the employers for
whom they are working making i'm
mense fortunes while they have to
work for low wages and have to SUI
fer reductions, it is not to be wOn-
pered at that they desire a more
equal distribution of wealth. Some
times we are told that people should
be contented with their lot but it is
notable that this view is invariably
held by men in the receipt of large in
comes"
''In order to receive what they be-
lieye their just desert workingmen
form their labor and tlade unions.
Some people condemn this action;
but why? II it is right for capital to
organize as it does, it is just as right
for labor to organize. 70 be sure as
a result of this organization we
sometimes have strikes like the pres
ent one which affects this whole
western country Business is un-
doubtedly suffering because Of this
trouble and many people are apt to
Unfortunately oppose all strikes
and throw the blame on thestrikers.
But it must not be forgotten that a
strike, though at best clumsy and
brutal weapon, is sometimes the only
way by which men can gain their
right ends. When employers refuse
to arbitrate, as the Pullman COM
pany refuses, then there is no alter
nate before the men but to submit or
strike. The present strike is aggra-
waited because of the peculiar rela-
tions existing between the different
lines and the Pullman company, and
tile men feel that to aid the employees
of that company to gain their point
| it is necessary to stop the running of
! the Pullman cars ON the various
lines. Hence the strike of the rail-
way employees. That they have on
the Northern Pacific struck most re-
luctantly is evident and no wonder
considering the amicable relations
always existing between the men
and the company, but they have
done it from sense Of duty to their
fellow employees whose wages have
been SO rnthlessly cut by the Pull
man company" -. ~. l.
Here the speaker read the schedule
OF wages paid last spring and this
spring and showed that either the
men must have received last year
wages far too high or else this year
wages far too low las the com
pany was not in business for philan-
thropy's sake, but. for money, it is
not likely they have ever. paid too
i high wages. Hence the natural con-
clusion is that the wages are now
down to starvation point, and, to
make matters worse, the company
has made no reduction in the mems
rent. Vice President Wickes says
that the company has nothing TIC
|sarbitrate, but the refusal to allow
a body Of disinterested men to act as
meditators is in itself an evidence
/ that there is more Justice on the
I mems side than on the side Of the
company.
As to Mr.. Pullman, the admirat tor
!. that we may feel for his business ap
J titude and the manner in which ht
] has risen from nothing to his present
position is more than balanced By
the disgust we feel at the deadeninq
I OF the finer Instincts Of humanity II
4 his make up. Is man who has him
4 self been. q workingman ought to b
q in sympathy with wage earners, but
! tits evident that he alloWs hislove .
i money to stifle all such feeling
IN closing Mr.. Moore spoke Of rem
q edies for labor troubles. Speaking
OF the proposition that the govern
,e1,f should own the railroads b