The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-21
TODAY,s STRIKE.

TODAI'S STRIKE.
The prospect presented to view in con-
nection with the nlne-hour day demand
of the union machinists Is not hopeful
one Today win, as the result Of that
demand, probably witness the Inaugural
ton of as extensive a strike as has taken
place in this country since the Pullman
difficulty of four or five years ago.
The issue is very simple one. The
union machinists demand that nine hours
shall be regarded as constituting days
work in their industry, and that with the
Inauguration of the rule they shall con-
tinue to be paid on the same basis as
now prevails for ten hours work.
A certain proportion Of the employing
concerns have conceded the demand and
are now conducting their business on that
basis. But tho bulk or those engaged
in industries requiring. extensively the
services of machinists, while willing to
concede the nine-hour day principle, are
not willing that the same rate Of wages
should prevail.
A long period of preparation has pre-
vailed among the machinists for the
event which takes place today. Just how
far those preparations have gone to en-
able the men to remain idle and insist in
their demand, or how seriously the en-
ploying interests will contest the demand.
it would be folly, with the prevailing in
formation to offer an opinion on. It is
evident that, whatever proportion of the
capable machinists of the country the
union organizations represent, they do
not embody the entire or anything like
the entire, working force of capable ma
chinists. If they did it may be assumed
that there would be but little option for
the employing interests but to concede
their demands. No doubt, however, the
utmost effort has been put forward by
the unions during the period of prepara-
ton to bring into their fold the greatest
possible number of capable American ma
chinists
While everybody viii naturally wish
that the difficulty may be adjusted to the
satisfaction Of each side, and with The
least possible degree OF feeling or i'll Will,
it ought not to be lost sight Of that in
the present situation the public stands
absolutely without protection OR repre-
sentation. The contending interests may
adjust their difficulties as they please
or they may not adjust them at all.
Every other machine shop in the United
States may be closed within twenty
four hours; 90 per cent of the men of the
calling may be walking the streets in
idleness and the most necessary public
and private undertakings lie z7ade to walt
the pleasure Of either or both Sides Of
tho controyersy; but the public can do
little more than fold it's arms and quiet
~ await the issue.
II it happens that riot and bloodshed
shall break out, or that existing law Is
violated, then the innings cf the public
takes place; not before No matter what
happens aside from this the controversy
remains pure and simple private affair
And, If, through the violation of existing
law or the disturbance Of the peace, the
public is obliged to concern itself in the
controversy, it must follow that that in
tervention will operate to the advantage
of one of the opposing interests.
We go on deluding ourselves with the
false belief that, having passed laws in
every state in the Union providing for
the arbitration of Industrial disputes, we
have done something tangible to protect
ourselves against serious situations such
as that which will probably be created
through the demand OF the machinists In
this case. But we have not. What we
have done through such enactments is
simply to offer to our own intelligence a
blind excuse for not having done any
thing.