The herald., 1898-07-03
A STRIKE AND ITS LESSONS

Chicago has SUFFERED anotner Calamity,
II TO be deprived of the news Of the world
may, be so classe6. Every. daily, jour-
nal in the great city suspended publica-
ton yesterday, accepting that alternative
to yielding to the demands Of the Stereo-
typers' union for increased pay and
shorter hours. A combination of en-
ployers followed a combination of en-
ployed, and the complete paralyzation
of a great industry resulted-a paralysis
as complete as that produced on the
dreadful night Of October SO, 1871, when
every newspaper office in Chicago, save
only that Of the Evening Journal, was
reduced to an ash heap.
The calamity Of II was unwittingly
produced by the erratic conduct Of Mrs.
O'Leary's now historic COW. That Of yes
terday was occasioned by the deliberate
action Of a body of men without whose
skilled assistance no newspaper could be
put to press. The product Of their labor
constituted the essential connecting link
between the intricate mechanism that as
sembles the inspired letters in dull met
allie slugs and the ponderous machines
that impress their features upon the sus-
ceptible pulp.
The publishers regarded, the, demands
Of the men as unreasonable and refused
to yield. The men exercised their pre-
rogative as American citizens and walked
out. By concert of action, the publica-
ton of all the English daily newspapers
was suspended for day.
As to the merits of the controversy we
may not so soon treat with a certainty
of doing exact Justice. If 1t were a purely
local contention, without other signifi-
canoe than the rights of the persons in
volved. the matter might be passed over
without comment. But to us it appeals as
but the beginning of labor troubles that
may become exceedingly embarrassing
before the summer is ended-the initial
step in a movement for a readjustment
Of compensation and a redistribution of
burdens, unequal before the war, and
now more oppressively accumulated by
the imposition Of taxes that cover about
everything, from the trousseau Of the
bride to the coffin of the pauper, and
that, however evenly distributed fall at
last and Inevitably upon the producers
dependent upon their toll for livelihood.
Conditions brought about by wide
spread industrial depression, the logical
result of a steady approach to the gold
standard. have been improved only in
the. case of few selected callings by the
war. and may be expected to grow stead
lily worse as it is prolonged, for labor is
the last to enjoy the benefits Of an ap-
probation in values. Prices of all essen
tial requirements Of the household have
been materially advanced, while some
Of the quasi luxuries have passed be-
yond reach.
1t is difficult to see how the Chicag,
stereotypers have bettered their condi-
ton by yielding their places to Others
and sacrificing incomes essential to the
support of their families, for that thew
will be defeated in their contention is
a foregone conclusion. So powerful a
guild as the combined newspapers of
Chicago must eventually, if not speedily
win. The regular issues of the journals
will. in all human probability, be re.
stunned this morning. 1t Is something OF
. tribute to the effectiveness of organ.
lsed labor that. by simple resolution