The evening times., 1899-05-06
SATURDAY. MAY 6, 1899.
The RuGalO Strike.

II is always unpleasant at this season o.
the year to witness a serious labor out
break. Usually such things do rot come IN
season until July, and then it generally
happens that cool weather. some weeks
later in the autumn. intervenes to moderate
their transports. But this year, which IS
only advanced to the merry month OF May,
finds us confronted with a serious strike oil
grain handlers in Buffalo, strike Of min
ers out in Idaho. and very grave dis
turbance among the coal diggers of South
eastern Indiana. We can only fear that
conditions of unrest which break out so
early will be followed by others worse and
more alarming as the dog days approach.
The Republican Administration VIII
naturally take alarm Next year VIII see
a Presidential election. Strikes from this
time on will be dangerous to the future OF
the present regime. just as the Homestead
strike was fatal to the amiable Mr.. Harri-
son. few Pinkertons here and there.
whether under the command OF Mr..
Andrew Carnegie or not would be ex-
tremely disadvantageous to the Mckinley
boom.
US hope that the war between capital aud
labor may not break out seriously this
year. The country is in condition of fer
ment but it is good kind of fermert.
We are taking on a lot of new territory
lush with possibilities for American ent r
prise-individuai American pick and sho7el
enterprise, Certain capitalists of the kind
represented by Edward Atkinson and such
of his principals as Hoar. Hale, SChurz.
Godl1in, and the late Grover Cleveland. are
attempting to keep US from possessing the
Philippines. just as the same men opposed
the acquisition of Hawaii. oppose the Mia
ragua Canal, and would and do oppose any
earthly thing that would give the Ameri-
can workiDgman d chance to get away
from his helpless and hopeless envi! comment
under the collar and lash of p!utocTacy and
win competency as a pioneer in virgin
territory.
1t is not good time for labor troubles
1t is an excellent time for the sturdy
American worker to bear the Ills OF the
moment and to devote his thoughts and
efforts to the spread of his country's pros
perity and glory. He should remember
that his greatest opportunity hangs in the
balance: that the possession of the Phil
ippines means the development of an en-
pire: that the development of that empire
under American auspices means the great
est mining, timbering, fishing, and agr-
cultural evolution we have ever conceiv-
ed! 1t as the business of the working
people OF the country to see that it and
they are not cheated out of the chance
They must not be diverted from the main
business OF the day. They must remem-
boz that. since'they form the majority of
people interested in the commonwealth.
the prosperity and progress of the COM
monwealth Is their matter more than any
one else's. They should reflect that the
only possible show for the under dog to
get on top is in expansion, the accretion
of new and rich territory and the conse-
quent necessity for men of brains and
Drawn to develop it!
These and other considerations are re-
markably good things for the workingmen
Of the United States to take home in their
dinner pals and consider over night. In
this year of grace 1899 they ought to know
more than they did in 1896, when they al
lowed themselves to be bullied into elect
Ing trust and monopoly agent to the
Presidency. Perhaps they will b, wiser
next time.