New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-03
THE SEASON or STRIKES.

Another extensive strike is threatened III the
Homestead works Seven years ago the pro
longed struggle there made an important dI-
ference 10 the prosperity of the country
affected both the Amalgamated Association OF
workers and the Carnegie company FOR years
and left behind IL a spirit which was not I'M
likely TO produce other difficulties after gen
eral nrosperity had been restored. 1t Is not
when thousands Of men are seeking employ
ment in vain that the workers find their best
opportunity to secure advantages; but when
everv mill and furnace Is crowded far ahead,
and men are not easily found to keep the ma
chinery I'm operation at It's full capacity, Whle
advancing prices have made the business more
nrohtable proposals for higher wages are more
readily entertained The main difficulty AT the
Homestead works seems to be not about wages,
hut about recognition Of an organization where,
II was recently stated no branch or the
Amalqamated Association existed. The state
ments ON the part Of the company Indicate con-
6dence thai the strike will not amount to much,
although other accounts are less encouraging
Meanwhile the tinplate works have nearly
ali stopped until the hands can be consulted
about acceptance Of the advance proposed by
the company, which averages about II per
cent The association Of workers asked 20
nor cent advance. and left their representatives
M authority TO agree to anything less. This
strike IS said TO cover 10000 men. mainly in
Western PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio and Indiana, ana
must affect many more indirectly. as the con
sumption of pig iron. ore and fuel Will neceS-
sarily be reduced for a time. Great confidence
Is expressed that the company Will soon agree
70 nav the advance asked, because of the large
t;,n
nriccs. Nobody can say however. how large
stocks the company may have on hand, since
II has been running with nearly fuH 1orce
for months. and prices have been so far al
vanced that purchases for consumption might
naturally be curtailed. 1t is proper to notice.
on the other hand that current trade reports
have usually indicated the continuance of large
distribution TO consumers. If the company
has scanty stocks on hand. and none OF those
who control it's action have any ends to serve
in connection with the stock market some klnd
Of adjustment is likely to be made within few
DAYS. But the question about the influence o.
operations In the stock market is one which
will unavoldably present itself where the In
dustry concerned is organized with big nom-
nal capital
The difficulty in Western coal mines appears
the killing and wounding Of many men at
Union City Ill, seem TO be the results or
previous resort TO force and crime in order
70 prevent employment Of new hands in place
Of others ON strike This kind Of trouble has
been growing more frequent in some of the
Western States. because the authorities at
various points have failed TO treat the question
as purely one Of enforcement OF law. Resort
70 violence or threats OF violence In order TO
depriye men of their right to work II they
choose Is always and everywhere criminal, and
there is no safe way but TO enforce the law
against IL as strictly and rigidly as if there
were no questions Of labor involvedJ In plain
truth. there are none. The unorganlzed workers
have the same right before the law as the or
ganzed and all are entitled to protection while
they obey the law themselves.
The trouble in the Chicago stock yards, an
other point Of frequent difficulty. does not
| seem 10 be settled. II is Of such nature, too.
/ that II may involve much interruption OF bust
ness and the authorities I'm that quarter have
! not always been found ready to preserve order
and enforce law. But It is most important this
year that the authorities. the employers and
! the employed throughout the country wherever
controversies are pending, should take into
| Immediate and serious consideration the fact
| that the prosperity Of the whole people. wage
! earners and capitalists and all others may
depend very much upon their action. In each
/ case there Is clear duty for all. II they will
look for It. The men have duty to the whole
country. and have no right TO demand more
than is reasonable nor TO resort to acts of vio-
/ lence. The employers have duties Just as
broad. and have no right TO refuse what Is
reasonable nor TO provoke violent outbreaks
unnecessarily. The authorities have every.