Arizona republican., 1899-08-10
PHRNIx. AUGUST 10. 1899.
AS TO STRIKES AND
 PUBLIC SENTIMENT


 Not since 1877 has there been so gen
 eral and violent an epidemic of strikes as that now affiicting the country. For the reason it is not necessary to seek far. Strikes grow numerous when the
 country is es either end of the indus trial extremes-when times are very bad or very good, and when either the necessities or the opportunities of the workers are great. The year 1877 was the climax of a long season of depres- sion during which industries were par alyzed and employers had been com pelled by existing condn-ions to force down the price of labor. By reason thereof the workingman was impeiled to take stand for what he deemed fair treatment. In many cases his ne cessities goaded him to it. Today it Is opportunities that constrain him to stand for a larger share of the new prosperity. In most cities thera are more jobs than men and the Iaborer is not slow to see that while such a con- dition prevails he stands the greatest chance of enforcing h.s demands. With labor so much needed everywhere. the chances are certainly in favor of the men whose services must be had to produce what the world wants yet it IS significant fact that many of the largest strikes of the year have been igrominious failures The most con -SpicIous examples are in the trolley strikes in Cleveland and New York. Why is it That with conditions in their favor as never before so many bodies Of strikers have come out of hard struggles without success: A good many thinkers will find rhe answer in the methods employed .by the men on strike. Tn Cleveland, for example the men not only arrayed themselves against the employers whom they charged with injustice but against public sentiment, order and law to such an extent that the Roman CatIlo- lie bishop of that diocese drew th:S picture Of the situation after week < mob rule and injunction by dynamite:
 Anarchy reigns. Riot and rebellion prevail. The city authority is defied i and openly resisted The city is rer-I rorized by ehe mob and the militia must he called cHt to preserve order !! Tine fair name of our city as a law abiding city is in danger Business has | been paralyzed Visitors fear to en- ter our portals. Our own citizens are in constant danger of their lives
 Such conditions are violently at va riance wfrh American institutions aud l can never hope to prevail where the majority stands for the observance of 1 the law, the safety of life and Droper- ty. and the maintenance of vested i rights. Not even the laborer, if nc $ 1 q good citizen. can conscientiousiy up- ! hold the resort 10 tactics which defy | all the rules which hold society to- gether and make the world hahitable | and only defeat can be the outcome | where strikers. even with much moral | justice behind their demands, array | themselves not only against capital but law. orde~ and that powerful pub lie sentiment which often determines success or defeat. In sharp contrast TO the picture drawn by ihe bishop of Cleveland is this from 2 Canadian city:
 Aontreal-P. N. Arthur. grand chief of the Brotherhood of To- coEotive Engineers. and r. r. Sar- geant. grand chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen, arrived here and after q conference with the chair men of the engineers and firemenE grievance committees, satisfactory adjustment of the matters in dispute with the Grand Trunk railway was ar ranged
 Here is q case where tactful leader ship won without the loss of 2 man. The railroad employers of America know and respect the power of these two great organizations. but they re- spect them for their conservatism. are wiling to meet them as men to men. knowing that their reGCests for con ference veil no threats. and tIrat in ihe event of q deadlock public sympa- thy would be on the side of so con servative body The strike of the tin Phate workers of the country was successful in spite of the fact that nos T deed of violence was done by the strikers. and the contest was waged with a powerful trust vastly stronger than the opponents Of the Brooklyn and Cleveland strikers. No other