New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-23

POPULAR VIEWS OF THE SITUATION.
GENERAL SYMPATHY WITH THE MEN AND IN
DrGNATIoN AGAINST THE COMPANIES
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: I for one am profoundly grateful for the
Judclous and fair-mnded treatment The Tribune
has given to the Brooklyn strike question The
men on strike are not 10 be held responsible for
all the discomfort and disaster that a strike on
the street railways entails II has been too often
customary to hold the poor men up to the public
as the blameworthy cause OF all that public
suffers. But such ignorant and superficial meth
DDS Of dealing With the questions involved are
giving way TO and more intelligent ones
In such social issues those raised by this un
fortunate strike know no safer guide than that
Of local popular opinion. Such opinion cannot be
very far wrong In this case II is most decidedly
with the men. and this is all the more remark
able when remember how great is the loss
how extreme the inconvenience, caused by the
strike.
II the Brooklyn public were not very sure that
in the main the mems contention is but fair and
just. their Indignation with those men would ex-
press itself most Enthusiastically. But from the
Mayor himself down to the patrolman. all are
evidently Of one mind All condemn the action
OF the officers OF the street railroads
Companies that admittedly can pay ~ 10 s
per cent watered stock can pay their men
living wage This is all the men ask-a wage we
pay over In New-York TO our street cleaners
In Brooklyn, men who hold the lives OF the public
in charge. whose nerve and expert knowledge
the very greatest demands are made. are forced
to work over ten hours day are forced. more
over. u superntend and assist In the training
Of an immense corps OF "trppers.' who are thus
held ready by the companies 10 GUST the regular
motormen soon as any matter OF dispute
arises between the motormen and the presidents
forced "A
less wage than give the unskled laborer
that cleans our streets.
Surely the men make out a fair case, case
that has not been answered. unless you count as
answer the In so.ent declaration. There Is noth-
Ing 10 arbtrate." II the whole traffic OF great
city Is To be disOrganized, the public VIII be very
slow. indeed. 10 accept this same ins0lent eX-
cathedra deliverance by corporation magnates,
that there IS nothing to arbitrate. as sufficient
answer II seems 10 me. sir, that FIRST and lore
most have right 10 know the facts OF this
and such like cases. There should be some
authorized commissioned X arbitration board
or anything you will-appointed by the Mayor.
whose duty ard Office should be TO make pub
lie statement OF facts. on such statement
sensible public opinion could be formed. and
both parties in any impending dispute that
affected the public should be obliged TO appear
and state the case.
We are still far behlndhand IN our knowledge
and practice of municipal government We
can only learn by our mistakes: our mistakes
We only acknowledge when we suffer for them.
Alas such sunerngs fall on innocent and guilty
alike That is the law Of human life. This Is
the one hopeful element amid the confusion and
misery such a strike as the present one causes.
The corporations teaching the public what
fools they Uhe public are to permit the valuable
property which the CITY possesses In its UNI
rivaed franchises to be stolen from them. In
those franchises. streets. docks. etc, the city.
and the city alone. owns unaenable property.
worth many millions OF dollars a year. II 1t were
judiciously and honestly administered. and every
dollar OF that vast income Is citizens property.
and should go into the citizens pocket (the
municipal treasury The city needs every dol
lar Of Il. And these autocratic and grasping
monopolists In Brooklyn doing what In them
lies TO teach US how to make our great city
cleaner. farer-a home for industrious and
honest men. owning and administering Its own
franchises able and willing to pay a living wage
to a working man. W. s. RAINSFORD.
New York. Jan. %. 1898.