New-York tribune., 1897-07-27

+. vc,ons responsible for the small local strike
'hey would not consent to a truce or make any
wort TO discuss the question on Its merits They
.nrsns tc the defence Of the three London firms
Who we're in the minority in adhering to nine
,.o,rs and they attempted, by cutting off wages
VI members in the country, TO disable the allied
rade-unions from supporting the strikers.
This Is not argument. but IL Is war; The en-
movers in Manchester. Birmingham Leeds, Glas-
COW. Belfast and Newcastle have protected them
solves against an eight-hour demand by combin-
ineaganst the London strikers. so as 10 defeat the
cause il possible. at the outset, and to prevent
a series of campaigns in the provinces If the
EMPLOYERS had not taken this action the local
strikers would have been supported by the sur
nlus wages contributed by their trade-union
associates throughout the country This source
of supply has been cut off. and the burden OF
nroviding the strike pay has been thrown d
rectiy upon the union funds. The employers
have defiantly challenged the trade unions to
battle when they might readily have avoided
a conflict The eight hours movement was
making at best slow progress In London. and I'm
,he industrial stronghods Of the north il was
NOT gaining much ground The employers, by
their precipitate haste in provoking tremen-
dous conflict. may have impaired great impulse
10 II. r,,,>.,o,., o~,.,,, ,c,
The forces of capital and labor like the
sanding armies in the European circle OF
camps They we'll organized. under perfect
discipline and prepared for any emergency. This
conflict has been brought on suddenly. 1t
only last week that the National Federation,
under the leadership of the Armstrong;. of Els
wick. issued notices of lockout; and yesterday
xar was declared Each side was bent upon
having hostilities and the offers OF mediation
rom the Board of Trade were declined con-
,smptuously. The masters declare that they
cannot meet foreign competition with eight
sours' labor and consequently they must fight
a. self defence The trade -unionists affirm that
,hs real object Of the employers is 10 crush and
Ssstroy the Amagamated Society of Engineers.
hours principle but also for their own rights or
organization and combination. So the campaign
opens as an irrepressible conflict, with loooVo
men out of employment So0OOOO week lost in
wages and 100000 week expended in strike
nav from the reserved resources of the trade
Unions
,sinC viii be followed speedily by another one
which will cause great public inconvenience
ard annoyance throughout the country Ihls
will be a strike of telegraph clerks. whose griev-
snces are low wages and irregu!arlty and lack
~ system in promotions. Men of hve years
service receive about 1915 year. and they do
not find 1t enough to live upon The telegram
onerators have sent something like an ultima
,pro 10 the Duke of Norfolk. as the head or the
Postoiice Department. and they are preparing
20 strike II their demands are not taken INTO
consideration promptly and indulgenty They
eIso have an effective organization and large
fInd available for strike pay; but 1t is probable
that their grievances will be settled py depart
ment action without the interruption OF tele-
The engineering conflict is not one that can be
settled with equal facility. combination OF
labor organizations is arrayed against C%Uih9l- %
nation of capitalists; and the Board OF Iraoe;
while II has offered to mediate. cannot coinpei
,be opposing forces TO accept arbitration. The
recent Cancellation act of Parliament has been
anplied tentatively in few instances put since
n lacks the compulsory element. II IS OF no utli-
Nv when each side is aggressive ana Dent upon
measuring forces and resources with the otheIc
So the war must go until there are signs Oh
exhaustion in one camp or the other; NeltheI
,ree-trade nor prosperity eXempts Ehelahu HUM
destructive conflicts of this nature
Indeed when a comparison is mace pe' @ teei'
The two chief industrial rivals OF Europe, ueI
many. in this respect, is found to he more 1orlu-
ma mo-. -, ErcIand Since protection became
ne State policy of Germany there nave peeI
onlv two great strikes-the miners uprisII,S III
Westnbalia and the lockers lockout IN Ham
burr During the same period there nave neeh
countless labor conflicts in England "hal II
nroha HE as the sequel to the recent disastrous
struggle in Hamburg is the enactment ol III
neriai legislation for rendering arpl,ration& ~ 10y
sta1c officials compulsory in such crises ina ma
would be a development OF prihcipIes VI ",a.O oor
Socialism which could hardly be lmi'ateU eEeh
in Mr Chambcrlain's England. ~