New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-30
THE RAILROAD BOYCOTT.

THE RAILROAD BOYCOTT.
Tho strike begun with only n brief warning
by employees of the Pullman Company at Chi
caco has swiftly involved score Of railroads
and tens Of thousands of operatives. and para
lvyed traffic throughout the western half Of the
continent At present no positive indications OF
the result are discernible. The railroad COM
NAMES are acting in unison under a strong
pledge Of mutual support. but the labor leauers
are inspiritcd by their sudden success and the
boycott may extend still further before 1t beSihs
10 contract. But though the strikers are prob
ably confident Of victory. as they so often nave
been hitherto in the first stage Of confusion and
distress produced by their concerted action II
is impossible to believe that they will win In the
end. for the simple reason that they deserve 10
lose. They have ipstantancously forfeited the
support of intelligent public opinion, without
which their cause IS hopeless, and the odds
against them will grow heavier from day TO Day
As we have already pointed out, this boycott
is utterly irrational If the employees who with
drew from the service Of the Pullman Company
had.in reality been the victims OF obvious anu
odious oppression, the attempt Of the American
Railway Union TO redress their wrongs by stop
ming the transportation of freight and passen-
outrocc mon all but fragment of the popula-
ton thus forced for no fault whatsoever 10 ell
duro ser,ous loss and Inconvenience. But as the
case stands It IS sheer idiocy TO imagine iha'
tho millions who are thus afrronted and abused
will sympathizc and cooperate win those 1T
whose hands they suffer. Mr.. Pullman has
made q statement Of facts which leaves 'he
mon who Voluntarily quit work in the shops OF
for
moss Of feeling. and which must bring upon the
leaders of the railroad boycott the indignant
condemnation of every unprejudlced citizen
Mr. Pullman kept his works open ana nearly
doubled the force at work in them ut the be-
Ginning of the last hard winter by making con
tracts which left only slight margin OF pos
sible profit at the best and III many cases III
volved certain loss. But the men were ordered
bv their leaders 10 insist that their wages must
he restored 10 the standard of prosperous times,
and when Mr. Pullman clearly explained the
situation and the imposslbility Of meeting their
wishes fournfths Of them struck Inc shops
coud not be kept in operation with only frac-
ton Of the hands at work. and MI Pullman
closed them. doubtless with an admixture or
| regret and Of relief that so great burden OF
responsibility had been lifted from his shout
| dcrS.
| Then followed a fantastic demand that arDl-
traitors should be empowered to determine how
| heavy n loss the Pullman Company could stand
and when II was rejected in stepped DeDs. pro-
| motor and head of the American Railway Union,
coqer 10 show his power and achieve notorely,
ana commanded the transportation companies
70 stop hauling Pullman cars on penalty OF a
tic-up on every line refusing TO obey. Inc raii-
| Il a acknowledge
authority. as they were bound to do by every
| conceivable consideration of honor ana OF oDii-
cation TO the public. and the brutal iniiction OF
loss and incOnv enience upon the American peo-
nle began forthwith We say With deliberation
that IL would not be a more wanton ana pre-
nosterous exercise of the power of organization
e ooneral railroad strike were precipitated
bocause the crew Of a fishing smack We're dis
satisfied with their rations.
II may be asked how 1t IS possible II these
statements are true, that tens or ''houslhus Vi
Industrious. peaceable men can feel so Keen
sense Of wrong as 10 incur hardship 'neliiseN %
and infict great injury on millions more. 1 hc
answer is that they share no such leenns'
/ Again. as numberless times before, they uhre-
hectingly permit themselves to become 'he III
struments and the victims or seilsh, cruei anu
insolent leaders, who thrive on their losses anu
| discredit. and crafty a dctestableF passion lor
| mower at the common expense. II the glory
that DelS covets ruins fTmers, shippers anu
| merchants. causes incalcflable INJURY 10 INC
whole travelling public and peculiar distress to
delicate women and hildren, wipes out the
savings Of Industry and eventually starves the
immediate agents Of his ambition, SO much the
worse for all these, but so much the better lor
Debs From insufferable tyranny IKE MS 'n III.
honest worklngmen Of the United STATES VIII
sooner or later free themselves. Inc present
boycott ought to be the beginning oil 'ie enu'