New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-29
TIE End or the STEIhL.

Tho Rrooklyn strikers through the Official
spokesman of their organization nav" sent !" me
presidents Of the trolley roads virtual acknowi-
cdcmcnt of their defeat. with an Offer Ia return
To work Master Workman Connolly thinks II
proper 10 announce in an address to the pubic
that this course has not been taken because ID"
strike was waning. but out Of consideration Tor
the people Of Brooklyn. II would nave been
wiser Ia withhold this statement. Tor Whch IN"
strikers are probably not responsible" me ia'l
undoubtedly being that they forcSaw complete
and speedy victory for the companies. ana
thought their chances for rc-cmploymcnt wunlI
be better now than later 4 frank admission
of the truth would not have hurt them in any
WAY but If that was too much 10 expect their
leader might at least have RETAINED from max
Ing Il disingcnuous appeal for public approbl-
ton So far as we are able 10 Judge. they had
retained throughout very trying period III"
general sympathy of the community which Is
more likely 10 be alienatcd than deceived by a
perverson Of obvious facts. We say This not
because our disposition toward unfortunate men
who. with rare exceptions. have behaved exceed
incly well under great prOvocaiion has changed.
but simply because we regret that another op-
portuniy 10 do the right thing In The right way
has been discarded by a Labor leader. Yet The
course taken by The men is more important than
fine words in which Il l. announced. and they
are deserving Of credit for deciding not 20 hard>S
the public in spirit Of sheer obslinacy. after
the expectation of winning had vanished
The strikers have not yet proposed. we I'M
dcrstand it. TO return 10 work Internationally.
They are now willing 10 accept the terms In force
n year ago-tha is 10 say. 81 day for regular
J,v A., trinnerS IppiIal i'm
provcmcnt as to the latter class Of service upon
the conditions prevailing when The strike began.
The companics are not in the least likely 10 ac-
ccpt advice merely because it is in conformity
with good morals and good citizenship. hut they
may conclude that they can better afford on the
whole To grant than 10 refuse this concession.
Within the last year they have conrrivc1 TO re-
duce the average pay Of trippcrs much below
81 30 a day. in spite of an admitted understand
ing and virtual promise that wages should
not be lowered. but raised as soon rs possible.
Since the strike began they havcsplcadcd ina
bility 70 keep faith with their men, and this per
haps. more than any other element in the con
trovcrsy. has solldiied public sentiment against
them. They now have chance to gain some
thing more valuable than a triumph for selfish
ness. namely. some measure Of popular goodwill.
an extent as TO warrant the withdrawal Of Il
part OF the armed force which had been pro
tecting the city for a week IL altogether graify-
ing The supremacy Of law has been from the
outset the paramount necessity. which no second
ary considerations have been permitted 10 OBJ
scurc. II IL a satisfaction to be able 10 say
that the soldiers on whom considerable burden
Of labor and discomfort was suddenly pui nave
bornos il we'll Their response 10 The call was
prompt and cheerful. and their conduci has
been generally crcdiiablc 10 them and to me
State single instance Of incorporate zeal has
been alleged and the evidence seems 10
Justify the rcproachcs which followed The 'nly
deliberately fatal shot fred during the contest
But discipline. obedience and sclf-restrant have
been uniformly shown by the troops. and their
fidelity should he cordially commended. Mayor
Schicrcn. Commissioner Wclcs and the Brook
lyn police have been subjected 10 some sharp
criticism. which seems TO he partly igno-
rant and partly sptcful. A great majority of
their fcllow-citizens. we are convinced. approve
the way in which they have discharged their
difficult task.
Whatever response the trolley companies may