The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-10-05
AN ERA OF STRIKES
one OF the nrses OF Evils THAT axs
sprwnE up tnasr she Cole
standard.

Standard.
There have been strikes of greater
magnitude than any which have taken
Place within the last few months In This
country, but rarely, II ever. has II oe-
rurred that there have been 30 many In
the same period. The larger strikes Ia
the past have bren on great railroad
systems whose employees are more
numerous than In nny other branch Of
buninesS, and whose operations extend
over greater areas.
j. fact suggestive of reflection Ia that
strikes have heoome more numerous az
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 to capital,
they are regarded by working people ns
mcnac,s TO their rights aud interests.
and strikes are rescrted 10 rs a means
of resistance 60 acts OF actual or appre.
hended wrongs. That trusts and com
binrS on the part of capitalist classes
are for the purpose Of enhancing prof.
its TO Themselves, aud 20 the dctrimeut
of labor and Of consumers. is undonbt.
ed. and therefore thsy are held Ia gen.
eral distayor.
While strikes perhaps caused en-
ployers TO be- more cautious aud leHS
| cXncting, they have not checked the
growth OF trusts and combinations ON
the part Of capital, which proves that
they are not y very effective panacee for
thr eviiA which The working CLASSES
seek to avoid. Strikes ARE iwo-edged
sword, and while they may damage the
! capitalists, they also injure the public
and the strikers themselves.
Where the ballot IL free, there Is no
necessity 10 resort 60 force 90 remedy
srongs. Al abnses IN "A fee country
are rcmsdiablc through political action.
and II Is for that that government by
the people has been iastituted. II IL
lawful and lsedable for lnbor to organ.
ize; In fact. Il Is only through orgRniza-
ton that effective work can be accom-
psished. II labor seeks n quantum
meruit share of wealth aE Il IL produced.
that end can be psaceahly reached
through the agency Of government.
II Is not necessary. and u ls not the
"iseAt course for working people 10
form party by themselves. A party
based upon clahs distinction will IN.
etitably excite the nntagonisms OF
other classes. No one class OF peoplr
In this country has the numerical
strength to carry elections. All that la
borers should ask Is the enactment OF
laws that win give them justice.
Farmers quite as much as employees
OF railroad companies and In mnnuiac-
turing establishments. suffer from
trusts and mOnopolies. The formation
OF farmers party has from time 10
time been mootcd. but al attempts
have been found impracticable. because
the true interests Of all Glasses are so
interviewer that policies aud Legislation
for the benefit Of one work injury TO
some or all others
There will always he at least two no.
liticai parties, aud ordinarily two will
be all that are necessary. and one or
the other rs matter OF political in.
tertst, II not altogether from couvic.
tion Of public duty, viii conce.lr 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 O; party affiliations
and prejudices.
The farmers and working men hither.
To largely supported the republican
party In the expectation ar hope of i'm.
proving their condition. but they have
been gricyously disappointed. They
surely cannot longer be blind to the
fact Chat that party has fostcrtd trusts
and monopoly, and that IL will not OF.
fend them from fear OF losing their
votes aud prruniury aid. That party is
NO cniangled with the money pywer
that IL eannqt cut loose. It's leaders are
welded Ia IL In indissolubIc bonds.
There will be no reform in policies that
will respect the interests OF the masse,
until the republican party experiences
the tribulEtiou Of crushing defeat.
When IL brcumcs known that the farm.
rrs and the working classes cannot be-
manipulated and deluded. and hat they
viii act independently. the republican
party, indeed both parties. will respect
their wishes in legislation, and In re.
gard To business methods.
The wiscst thing to do IL TO organize
and hold a position Of armed neutrality.
and he ready to throw their weight on
that side from which the greatest gen.
crsl good may he expected. Working.
men should watch the changes that are
constantly occurring IN industrial and
commercial conditions, that they may
act inielligeuily In regnrti To them. Men
who do not keep themselves informed
are liable 20 be misled and dnped by
demagogues and mouutebapkN. and, TO
Use Shakespcarran phrase. they are
'ns plenty ~ blaekberries. The work
Ing people, including the farmers, have
II IN their power To secure the reforms
necessary TO the highes; general vel