Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-10-05
The Cause Of Free Silver.
An ERA OF STRIKES


Standard.
There have been strikes of greater
magnitude than any which have taken
place within the last few months in This
country, but rarely, if ever, has ii oc-
Cured that there have been so many in
the same period. The larger strikes in
the past have been on great railroad
systems whose employees are more
| numerous than in any other branch of
| over greater areas
A fact suggestive of reflection is that
strikes have become more numerous as
combinations Of capital have increased
They naturally provoke combination OF
labor on the principle that like begets
like. Trusts and combines being for the
purpose of increasing profits 10 capital,
they are regarded by working people as
menaces TO their rights and interests,
and strikes are resorted to as a means
Of resistance to acts of actual or appre-
aended wrongs. That trusts and COM
Dimes on the part of capitalist classes
are for the purpose of enhancing prof
rs to themselves, and 10 the detriment
ed, and therefore they are held in gem
eral disfavor.
While strikes perhaps caused en-
ployers to be more cautious and less
exacting. they have not checked the
growth of trusts and combinations on
the part of capital, which proves that
they are aot very effective panacea for
the evils which the working classes
seek TO avoid. Strikes are two-edged
sword, and while they may damage the
capitalists. they also injure the public
and the strikers themselves.
Where the ballot is free, there is no
necessity TO resort to force to remedy
wrongs. All abuses in free country
are remediable through political action.
and it is for that that government BY
the people has been Instituted. 1t is
lawful and laudable for labor to organ
ize; in fact, it is only through organiza-
ton that effective work can be accom-
plished. If labor seeks quantum
meruit share of wealth as it is produced,
that end can be peaceably reached
through the agency of government.
1t is not necessary. and it is not the
wIsest course for working people to
form party by themselves. A party
based upon class distinction will in
eEitably excite the antagonisms of
other classes. No one class of people
in this country has the numerical
strength to carry elections. All that Ia
borers should ask is the enactment of
laws that win give them justice
Farmers quite as much as employees
Of railroad companies and in manufac-
turing establishments, suffer from
trusts and monopolies. The formation
of farmers party has from time to
time been moofed, but all attempts
have been found impractica BILE, because
the true interests of all classes are so
interviewer that policies and legislation
Tor the benefit of one work injury to
some or all Others
There viii always be at least two DO
itical parties, and ordinarily two win
be all that are necessary, and one or
the other as matter of political in
terest. if not altogether from eonvic-
lion of public duty, viii concede what
ever is reasonable to the demands of the
farmers and the laboring classes. What
IS needed is thorough information on
economical and social questions, and
action independent of party affiliations
and prejudices.
The farmers and working men hifher-
to largely supported the republican
party in the expectation or hope of i'm
proving their condition, but they have
been grievously disappointed. They
surely cannot longer be blind 10 the
fnc .Y haf hot hos
and monopoly, and that it viii not of
fend them from fear of losing their
votes and peeuniary aid. That party is
so entangled with the money power
that it cannot cut loose. It's leaders are
welded to 1t in indissoluble bonds
There win be no reform in policies that
viii respect the interests of the masses
until the republican party experiences
the tribulation of crushing defeat
When it becomes known that the farm
ers and the working classes cannot be
manipulated and 6eluded, and that they
viii act Independently, the republican
party, indeed both parties, viii respect
their wishes in legislation. and in re-
gard to business methods.
The wisest thing TO do is to organize
anu p0SiA1OA
and be ready to throw their weight on
that side from which the greatest gen.
eral good may be expected. Working
men should watch the changes that are
constantly occurring in Industrial and
commercial conditions, that they may
act intelligently in regard to them. Men
who do not keep themselves Informed
are liable to be misled and duped by
demagogues and mountebanks, and, to
use a Shakespearean phrase, they are
.'as plenty as biackberries- The work |
ing people, including the farmers. have
it in their power to secure the reforms
necessary TO the highest general well
fare.-Los Angeles Herald.
No Posfponemenf.
They were talking about the Scrip
lures, and OF course her knowledge of
the Bible was deeper and more accurate
- L.