The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-07-20
The Lesson OF The Strike.

he almost universal ana earnest aiSCuS-
sion of the questions brought in issue by the
strike has taught important lessons, lessons
not socn to be forgotten. The workmen
employed ty the Pullman Company de-
manded higher wages The campany de-
ciared their. inability to paw such wages
without loss 10 the cencern.
The workman insisted, If we are rightly
informeA, that the Pullman company shall
arbilrate the question as TO the amount OF
wages that they shall pay, or, in other
words. they insist. that the right of contract
shall be given up by tie company to a
board of srbiuators, and that the company
shall abide by the decision which this board
may make as to the amount OF wages that
they shall pay In conducting their business.
As to tie amount of wages asked by the
workmen and the amount rendered by the
company the Democrat has nothing to say.
1t Is a question whose decision belong ex
clusively to the company and the workmen.
If the minds of the parties can not be
brought TO agreement as 70 wages, then
no outside party can legally or fairly settle
the question for them, tone of those me n
working in the shop thinks his services are
of greater value than he is receiving it is
his right to quit work and so where he can
get what he thinks to be a fai. consideration
for the services which he has TO sell. On
tie olher hand, If there is a man at work In
that shop who dose not earn his money, the
company ought to have and does have the
right to say that It does not want his work
and 1t ought to have the right to put another
mar in his place.
This comes down squMely to the doc
trine of personal rights-tle rights to con
tact; The rights Of a man 20 sell his work
where be can get the most for il, and th
right of the men or corporation to hire
man or men at the price they agree to pa,
and he agrees to accept.
The Pullman strike has gone further thai
q this. The workmen said that they woul
: NOT resort to force. They have gon
futher than this. TIey have gene {
d railroad men and demanded that
!, boycott; should be proclaimed aOd main
: tanned against the Pullman cars.
e How can arbitrators settle the ques.io
i how much wages an employe or corporation
is able 10 paY' Who can determine tina
Il question but the employer or corporation
Is Must srbitrators SO all through an employ
ie or's books, which are at once the hisior
lie of his. business, in order TO determine Nh;
D. wages he can give? How can arbitrators &
termine what wages q oorporAtio. can atiol
le 10 pAy six months hence, in view of the fA'
OF that the cost of raw materials and the pri'
Is of products are subject TO change at al
tine? Are we to have a strike every thr'
or six moaths nd aIbiiratoIs called in ca
: time to settle questions in dispute betwet
ne employers? How lorg would an indiVidu
In or corporation remain in business II Il
nc question of wages is to be settled and d.
n termined by arbiiraiors instead Of by hin
y self or itself? And whl. man or corPor'
ton would go into any new industrial I
e other enterprises knosins that he ~oul
:" not be allowed to control his business.
IT, determine the amount of wages he ~cu
pay? And how long would II be und
such a system of arbitration before all {
~ nearly all the industrial enterprises of Ii
~ country would be driven out of bGsinei
as as thus destroying every opportunity Of labc
7, people 10 secure employment? Each
~ these questions suggests its own answt
& The careful unbiased investigation
= this subject viii inevitably lead to the fC
lowing conclusions:
8FiIst. every corporation, company, or
dividual who employs labor must, and do
" have The right to determine the amount
wages to be paid 10y such corporation oou
pany or individual Second each emplo
er must and does have the right TO dete
mine what wages he must have. If eI
of ployer and laborer can not Ggree as to Z
he price Of labor, the emplove has the rig
-as to quit work. but he has no right to p
e. vent others from working, who are %i
to ing to accept the wages be himself has I
en- fused to accept.
to Third labor people nave the right
en form unions to secure better wages. b
~, any thing they do must be subject 10
n above well established principles of p
I, sonal rights.