Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-01
LABOR AND STRIKES.
EDITOR of the Register

To the Editor of the Register:
There is something ominous in the
drift of these times. Do our sociolog-
ical tendencies presage national good
or national evil?
Is it a healthy sign to see one of the
great giants of the Titan brotherhood
Of laborers, toiling in Plutonian rr!e.giQqPs
The fruits Of toll, instead Of repose and
comfort-hunge and rags. This is not
a good sign;it pOrtends danger. From
conditions such as these blossoms the
red flower Of revolution; and from it
trickles the dew of blood. Back of the
cry for bread, a hundred years ago in
France. stood the shadowy, hideous
form OF colossal revolution, back of
revolution COnfscation, the guillotine,
rivers Of blood. What caused ali this?
If the cOunsels of wisdom could stay
the hand Of greed, if fellow sympathy
and fairness could supplant avarice,
conditions leading to such deplorable
conclusions could never occur. Dis
cord would disappear and fraternal
harmony reign instead
The great battle now is not of bayo-
nets and the gUillotine. but of words
and endUrance-the endurance of the
worker matched against the obstinacy
Of the operator. In these great strikes
often before the obstinacy of the oper-
atOr yields the endurance Of the work
man suCcumbs Why? Because the
human stomach must be replenished.
These human machines fixedly main
tain their position. much as a beleag-
uered garrison does: their resources
narrow until they have absolutely
nothing Then the crucial test - the
cry of hungry children. the empty cup
board. Endurance gives way. the man
extends his arms, accepts the shackles
and becomes the serf again. There is
something noble yet piteous in all this
There should be a remedy for this
empty stomach. There should be no
strikes; every one admits this. We will
further say there should be no wars.
there should be no disease. But will
the human race ever be free from these
CalamitieS? If not, preparation should
be made in anticipation Of these events.
That the stomach may not suffer. the
following suggestion is offered: That
each and every labor organization
maintain a cooperative fund for the
maintenance of food supply and shelter
during these periods of non-employ-
ment. This fund TO be secured by
small monthly or quarterly assessments
and gratuities. The fund so collected
to be used for no other purpose but the
one specified and remain with the
treasurer of each distinct organization.
In grave emergencies such as the
present the heads Of organized labor
shall confer, aud if the situation war
rant the fund shall he drawn upon,
each order furnishing such sum as may
be agreed upon by the officers assem-
bled.
This fund then shall be expended in
food and for tents and blankets, if nee
eSSary, for those who may be evicted.
The distribution to be under carefully
selected officers, who will issue food in
the form Of ratiOns. similar TO the prac-
tice followed in the army. This plan
could not only become national with
but small individual expenditure. but
could become International.
Considering the complicated condi-
tons which frequently surround labo~
questions. it seems vitality necessary
that there should be a secretary OF la
Dor in the cabinet. with power to ap-
point arbitrators. adjust disputes, Or al |
least be empowered in some manner to
facilitate the solution Of these vexing |
situations. Such an officer should not |
be distinguished as a partisan, a prod |
lct Of the stencil of politics. as has |
been suggested concerning Powderly. |
but person selected with regard to /
his peculiar fitness. Instead of being |
directly appointed by the president. |
very organized society of labor having
membership OF i've hundred or more |
should be entitled to an equitable
lumber Of delegates, who should. BY !
convention or otherwise, select a per-