St. Tammany farmer., 1901-07-27

wholly by their emotions. They are
strongly impressed by forceful head
line. And they know when the pubilc
is ready to sympathize with lawless-
ness. When the psychological mo-
ment" arrives they are ON hand with
bricks and clubs, partly to "have some
fun," and partly because they have q
dull. unintelligent sympathy for the
strikers. The hoodlum never has any
strong convictions; he is always on
the popular, side and with the noncon-
formist. He merely wants a chance
to yell and chase somebody, and is
quite Indifferent to the object OF his
rage. The hoodlum is the truest ex-
preston of public opinionin in its unclvll-
lied form.
It is undeniable that strikers ap-
prove of the attacks made upon non
union men, as in the recent riots at
Albany. They swell the crowds and
cheer the brick -throwers; of this there
can be no doubt. But if: they did not
do so, they would be the most marvel
Gus. nonresistants the world has ever
known. Strike leaders know that
little violence has again ard again been
the means of winning strike, though
they also know that if carried too far
it turns public opinion against them.
No union leader has ever publicly ad-
vocated violence, and it lis not often
that a striker is convicted of violation
of the law.
It is a fact, much to be regretted,
that very slight destruction of prop
erty secures more publicity than
very great injury to the interests OF
wageworkers. The smashing OF .
$4,000 street car receives more prom
inence than reduction in wages which
means $4,000 a year to sthe strikers.
The latter are quick to perceive this,
and it helps considerably t. embitter
them against their employers.
Lack of little common courtesy on
the part of the corporation manager
is very frequent means of exasperat-
ing the unionists to the point OF law
breaking. When their representatives
happens, they are sworn at and or
dered out of the company's office,
feeling of bitter resentment is created
in the minds of the workers which
bears fruit not infreque4tly in the de-
struction of life and property.
But when the employer is willing to
confer with the secretary of the trade
union, and strike takes place without
any previous i'll feeling, there is rarely
any violence or hoodlumism. The feel
ing of bitter ill-will from which
all rioting springs, is caused not
so much by the denial OF the unions
demands as by the rude and contemp-
tuous manner in which the denial 10
made. eff they don't want us to bite,
they shouldn't treat us like dogs" said
a coal miner in the recent strike in
Pennsylvania. The union organizers
have few stronger or more effective ar
guments than this separateness OF in-
terest between employer and worker,
and understand thoroughly how to
make the most of it.
If employers had treated their dis
satisfied employees as though the latter
had right to make demands and to
ask questions, if they had shown their
books, explained the uncertain state
of the market, and promised to redress
grievances as far as they were able,
nine-tenths Of the strikes would never
have been ordered. The history of
trades unionism shows that wage-earn-
ers have been more willing than wise
in the matter of believing promises.
No one can say that they are not pa
tient in the endurance Of unpleasant
conditions. They know from costly
experience the risk and vvastefulness
of strikes, and are almostalways eager
to arbitrate and meet their employer
half way.
In few rare instances, such as the
recent unjustifable strike in the Ma
tional Cash Register company's works
at Dayton, O., the wage-earners have
revolted against the most considerate
and humane employers; but it may
be accepted as general rule that good
will on the part of the employer breeds
goodwill on the part of his men. A
single insulting epithet from an en-
ployer or manager is more likely to re-
suit in lawless retaliation than is a
serious reduction in wages, if the lat
ter is accompanied by fair and cour-
teous explanation.
THE TALK OF The TRADES.
Nearly all contractors a. Terr.