New-York tribune., 1900-04-17

mise on 81 371h. But the contractors will not
grant ii. That the Consul points out, would
mean only Si5 day more for the contractors
10 pay. But the contractors reply that If they
grant such increase to these men there Will
have to be prOportionate increase throughout
all their army of employees. That may be 50.
though the contractors must not he surprised If
many people doubt ii and hold that ii is bad
policy and worse morals to delay great and
pressing public work. to menace the peace and
welfare OF the community, and perhaps destroy
n number of human lives, rather than pay On
additional S15 day. Mr.. Branchfs statement
Is, at any rate one which the contractors can
not well afford to ignore. We do not pretend
to decide whether or not 81 % may properly be
deemed starvation wages 1t is certainly
low wages for able bodied men. And if the
raising of it by 1912 cents to 100 men would
stop all the trouble the contractors will be In
curing Il grave responsibility if they do not
give the proposal their most careful thought.
That is not by any means to Justify the
strikers in all the methods they are resortng to
for the attainment of their end. We regret to
see that they are acting and talking in way
that is insusceptbe of Justification The use of
arms and the violent prevention of the bringing
in of other laborers unhappy familiar
performances in strikes, and they de-
testabe as they are familiar. One Of the recog
niZed spokesmen of the strikers says: we earn
more than we get, and the contractors must
''pay us for our work" If the contractors have
not paid them their stipulated wages the courts
will compel such payment. But If they have
paid in full the sum for which the men agreed
to work the men have no cause for complaint.
They can, stop working for such wages. But
they have no right to say that others shall not
work for such wages "The BOSSES" continued
+I,a rily have rr;x-
rights" The men have rights to get
the wages for which they agreed TO work. They
have no more legal right to coerce the con
tractors into paying them more than the CON
tractors have to coerce them into working for
less. 1t Is conceivable that the men made their
engagements at 81 %, thinking they could afford
to work for that wage. and that they now find
they cannot do so. Well they have a right to ask
for higher wages, and. If these be not granted.
to quit work and go elsewhere in quest Of
better pay. It Is also conceivable that a
tractor might hire a lot of men at a certain
| wage, thinking he could afford to pay them so
much, and that afterward he might find that If
he continued to pay that rate he would lose
money his contract. In that case he would
have a right to ask his men to work for less.
and, if they would not. to dismiss them and try
to fill their places with those who would work
for less He would not have right to try to
force the men to work for reduced wages. and
neither. in the other case. TO wit, the present
case. have the men right to try to force their
/ employers to pay more than they agreed to pay.
The sending of troops to the scene is a COM
mpndable act, for more reasons than one. But
it must not be misnterpreted. The strike leader
whom we have quoted says that instead Of
sending troops to help the bosses the State
should send them to compel the bosses to grant
the mems demands. The troops not sent for
either of those purposes. They are sent thther
for the maintenance Of peace. for the protection
of property and life. and for the guardianship
of every honest man who wants 10 do an honest
days work and get for It the pay he is content
10 receive. 1t is to be hoped that fact will he
recognized. and that the contractors will not
regard the troops ms their partisan allies. nor
the men regard them as their enemies. 1t is
for peace. law. order. security and industry that
the arm of the law is thus made strong. in
which the largest and promptpst success IS to
be hoped for it by every right thinking man.