Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-02
The Failure OF Strikes.

louisville Courier JOurnal)
In 1880. when Carroll ID. Wright was
Chief of the Massachusetts, Bureau or
Statistics. he published pamphlet con-
tanning the statistics Of strikes in that
State for the previous fifty years. His
conclusions were discouraging, so far as
the strikers were concerned, since they
showed that only one strike in seven
brought any advantage to the working
man. Mr.. Wright not only said STRIKES
generally prove powerless 10 eeneht the
condition OF the wage class" but also
that STRIKES lead to improvidence ana
are demoralzing in their effects on the
laboring man."
1t is not hard to find the reasons for
such ill-success as this record presents.
The sympathy of the public, as rule, j.
with the toiler in his demands Tor snort
er hours, better wages, and better treat
ment. The love of fairness Is Implanted
.1 every breast and people who are not
affected directly by the increased expense
that must follow concessions ny employ
ere are anxious TO see these concessions
made. Few strikes occur in which the
pubiic does not al the start lend material
assistance 10 the strikers.
with such 4 potent advantage in their
favor il may be wondered why so Few
strikes result 10 the betterment or the
1yase-earners. 1t is chiefly because pub
lie sympathy is sacrificed by the reck-
less conduct of an element of the strik-
ers usually only small minority Of
the active members, but for whose pro-
ceedines the leaders are held response
HE A few are tempted into violence ana
disregard Of property rights, sometimes
even of life, with the result that me law
is invoked by the employers ana the
strikers put on the defensive and routed.
We see a lamentable teXemplincatlon or
this i'm the Cleveland street railway
strike. where dynamite Is used TO Wrech
cars on which are innocent passengers,
even women and children, and an at
tempt is made TO justify violence. Inc
consequence is that the troops have been
called out and the strike has no change
of success. From the moment when the
mons begin 10 form, the cooperation OF
the public. whose moral support would
otberwise be given, is lost forever, ana
without II no strikes ever succeed.
The remarkable success attained by
tho brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
in all their controversies with their en-
Movers is negative proof or TINS as
sertion. Who ever heard Of laWlessness
in connection with an engineers strike
i'm the rare cases when resort has been
made 10 that desperate expedient? On
the contrary it is the practice or the or
ganization to appoint committee oil
strikers whose business ii Is 10 see that
there is no harm done 10 person or prop
erty. and there never IS any done.
The fact is, q strike must be won II
won at all, by moral suasion. and NOT
force When strikers begin TO threaten
nonunion laborers or 10 destroy property
they forfeit the advantageous position
they before occupied end begin to be re-
earded as the oppressors instead OF thes
oppressed. II Il safe TO say that ever
in cases where the strikers are mani
testify right the same result would follow:
Alternate the good will of the public and
the strike ha6 S-st be called off at once.
ANY show Of 80 % or violence alienates
the best frien3s - labor at once. Ihas
~ largely why these :. such a record OF
fa,lures in the ionS list OF strikes. not
wIthstandinx the sympathy that Is al
ways given 20 such movements.