The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-10

Between the tyrrany of the trusts and
the despotism of the labor unions, the
social and industrial system of the
United States is approaching a crisis of
Ell rene gravity, whose consequences
cannot now be accurately foretold, but
that are certain to be immensely mo-
mentous.
Obviously matters cannot go on indefi-
nitely as they are at present
Strikes, lockoutS, boycotts and disor-
der are ineligible in times of panic and
distress, of shrinkage and disaster, when
wages fan and multitudes are out of en-
ployment. But we are prosperous be-
yond precedent. The treasury is con-
gested. Our exports seem fabulous AL
nations are our debtors. Money IS so
abundant and interest so low that the
occupation Of the miser and the usurer
is gone. We have had the early and the
latter rain. and the earth has yielded its
increase with prodigal profusiOn. Plenty
has been scattered over the smiling land.
The demand for labor has been constant
and remunerative, but the discomfort OF
the employed is more general, more de-
perate and manacing than ever before in
our history. 1t has apparently passed
from the acute into the chronic stage,
and from being casual has become per-
manent.
One of the most noteworthy and sig
nificant features Of the situation is that
labor troubles are confined almost eX-
clusively to the North They seldom
occur in the South. This immunity is
due partly to the absence of the for
eign element Society is more homo
geneous-among the whites, also there
is less inequality of condition. Great
fortunes are few. The burdens Of life
are less. The benetiCence of the soil
and the sky deprives poverty on its hard
ships and dminishes the necessity for
foil The negroes are not disturbed by
social problems nor melted by ambi-
ton. Competition is more free, oppOr-
tunity less restricted. Trusts and COM
binations have not absorbed the rel
sources and monopolized the activities of
the people.
Trusts and labor unions are insepera-
BILE. They are twin relics of barbarism.
Employers and employed ought to be
auxiliaries They are antagonists. They
should be friends. Society has made
them enemies. The great gulf between
them yawns wider and more inexorabiy
every day. Until conditions change they
can never be reconciled One or the other
must be subjugated, or both may be de-
stroyed. This is the logical consequence
of the declaration of independence up
to date This is the product of Anglo
Saxon civilization based on the golden
rule of doing unto others rs we would
that they should do unto us. 1t is an
ironical eorollary to the brotherhood of
man.
From the dispatches recently it APP
reared that the commerce, industry, bus
mess and public convenience of five
States were interrupted by strikes; in
some cases apparently capricious and
wanton, without reason or justification.
In Kansas City one of the great pack
ing houses was compelled to close by
the walking out Of men who had. just
signed contract in which the owners
conceded all that the union required.
In Buffalo the freight handlers struck,
practically suspending shipments Of
grain and merchandise between the east
and the west.
In Chicago all building operations We're
stopped by a strike of the union brick
makers cntailing immense losses and
causing great inconvenience to vast num-
bers who were in no manner Implicated
otherwise in the alteration.
In Indiana Governor Mount had troops
in readiness to dispense riotous laborers
at the coal mines, who were not satisfied
with the methods and the prices of the
operators.
But Cleveland, O., appeared to be the
storm center For many weeks the en-
tire street car system CT this opulent aud
prosperous city of three hundred thou
sand inhabitants was i'll the control of
a heterogeneous and conglomerated
mob. The employees struck and attack
ed with violence those who were hired
to take their places. The property of the
company, worth many millions, was I'M
protected. Distractions We're piled on
the tracks. Cars were blown up with
dynamite One gentle apostle of free
dom, in his solicitude TO redress the
wrongs of labor, stretched strands of
barbed wire across the track at con-
yenient height to decapitate scdb mo
torman on his night run. Being under
size, the man escaped, and the obstruc-
ton only tore ont the yestibule and
wrecked the car.
Curiously enough, the city council the
mouthpiece and organ of the people re-
! fused to have anything Whatever to do
with the difficulty either by way of of
fetal inquiry or investigation. Whether
they were III sympathy with the owners,