Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-23
THE ALBANY STRIKE

The strike Of the employees OF the
United Traction company OF Albany
n. Y, Is over, and the terms OF se'''e-
ment are given in eastern papers
They provide several important points,
The company agrees to recognize ana
treat with any committee OF It's EN-
ployes when they desire to be heard IN
relation to grievances; men VINO may
be suspended or discharged by the su-
perintendent are entitled TO appear 10
tho executive committee Of the COM
pany conductors and motormen are
entitled to ride free on the cars, Wheh
displaying their badges, If men are sus-
pended and finally found not guilty the
company is to pay the wages lost oy
the suspension; no discrimination Is 10
be made against the strikers, except
those who have been guilty OF riotous
conduct; the company reserves the
right to employ non-union labor the
rate Of wages is agreed on-ZO cents
an hour for motormen, conductors
linemen and pitmen, and lI1s cents FOR
their helpers: and finally, It Is agreed
that no proposition for a strike shali
be acted upon by any division at the
same meeting at which 1t is introduced,
but that at least As hours shall elapse
before such proposition shall be voted
upon and If strike shall be ordered
Il shall not take effect until at least
six days have elapsed after notice 10
the company, during which time the
employees shah continue their work
Also that this agreement shall continue
in force and shall be binding not only
upon the parties hereto, but upon their
successors or any organization formed
for the term Of three years from the
date thereof.
To the general public the end Of the
strike must be very welcome. since the
struggle has caused no little incon-
yenience to business but In reading
the terms OF the agreement, It does not
appear that the strike has resulted in
much Of victory Cor the men, and
the question naturally arises whether
il is not another illustration of the
futilty OF violence as means Of ad-
justmeut OF differences In the world OF
industry The company retains the
right TO employ non-union labor and
WILL probably, in the future exercise
that right more than ever The men
agree not TO strike without giving am
pie time for the employers TO prepare
for that emergency 1t certainly looks
as II the latter had emerged victorious
from the contest And that Is we be-
lieye. the rule generally There should
be some other means than strikes
whereby to maintain the good under
standing between employers and en-
ployes. II certainly is to the interest
Of the entire commonwealth that labor
Is disposed u at reasonable figures
and for that reason arbitration should
be in accordance with law, and not on
| principles OF anarchy.
The Albany strike Is settled. but I'M
interested parties were injured, and
killed, during the riots that called for
armed interference by the militia. What
is to be done about that? Who is re-
sponsible? II is nearly always the
case In such riots that innocent persons
are made to suffer with those who are
directly concerned. That alone is
enough TO mark strikes ana riots al
wrong, and to render the demand fol
civilized methods In civilized society
urgoR; and Imperative.