The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-08-09
THE GREAT STRIKE.

THE GREAT STRIKE.
The test of strength between the Steel
Trust and the Amalgamated Association
of Iron and Steel Workers has reached
the acute stage. The combatants on both
sides, since the failure of the conference
in New York on Saturday to arrange a
compromise, now declare that the contest
will be ''fought to finish" and that mo
quarter will be given" Labor, as repre-
scented by the Amalgamated Association,
and organized capital, as represented by
the Steel Trust, appear to be equally de-
termined. Each party to the controversy
considers that a vital principle is at stake.
The trust, it is stated, will try to run its
mills with non union labor, while the
Amalgamated Association threatens to
call out the members of the association in
the mills to which the strike has not yet
been extended.
AS there is no political contest Of i'm
portance this year-unless the Ohio cam
paign be considered such-it is apparent
that the striking steel and iron workers
cannot depend upon the Intervention of
those influential politicians whose kind
offices are usually volunteered when the
Presidency or the control of the House of
Representatives is involved. A day or
two ago Senator Hanna, who seems to
have been annoyed at persistent rumors
that he was acting as mediator between
the strikers and the trust, announced en-
phatically that lie had taken no part in
the fight He also allowed it to be in
ferred that he would not be drawn into
the controversy. Newspapers which are
in sympathy with the trust have solemnly
warned President Mckinley that he is un-
der no Obligation to use his good offices in
behalf of the Amalgamated Association.
Indeed, Mr.. Mckinley has been frankly
informed that it would be colossal
blunder" for him to urge the trust to make
terms with the strikers. 1t will be fully
three years before another Presidential
campaign, his party is strongly intrenched
in power now, and it will control the Sen
ate for several years to come, whatever
may be the result of the Congressional
elections in 1902. Under these circum-
stances, it is contended, the trust and its
employees should be left to fight out their
differences without outside interference.
The politicians will pursue policy of
Glands off, and the battle will be decided
on the principle of the survival of the
strongest, if not of the fittest.
If the leaders of the striking steel work
ers have INDUCED hopes of assistance from
influential political sources, the result
must have proved keen disappointment
to them. There was no apparent reason,
however, why they should have expected
aid from that quarter. They ought to
have known that nothing short of a grave
party crisis would bring about Intervention
in their behalf. In view of the conditions
it is conceivable that, even if such crisis
existed, there mig e no interference by
representatives of the party in power 1t
is not necessary to set forth in detail the
reasons why the party in power should
preserve an attitude of strict neutrality
and non-intervention. 1t is sufficient to
point out that the Steel Trust is the out
growth of the economic system of which
the dominant party has long been the
champion. 1t would be unreasonable to
expect the party to discredit its own off
spring.
1t may be the good fortune of the Anal
gamated Association to win in this ight
between organized labor and organized
capital. 1t may have reserves of strength
of which the public is ignorant. What
ever may be the resources of the strikes,
however, it is plain that their opponents
are equipped at every point for the con-
test. The trust has the support of capita
lists of almost unlimited resources 1t
has the advice of men who are at tie
head Of the legal profession. 1t may be
added. without prejudging the merits of
the controversy, that the trust is contend
ing for principle which is of the very
greatest Importance to it. Should it be
compelled to surrender the right it now
claims to organize its mills as it sees fit,
every trust would be vulnerable in the flu
ture, no matter how great its financial re-
sources. On the other hand, if the pur-
pose of the trust is, as stated, ''to wipe out
TIE Amalgamated Association in its mills"
so that ''the corporation, once and for all,
will be freed from the influence of union
men" it is plain that the very existence
Of one branch of organized labor is at
stake. At this advanced period of indus
trial development there ought to be some
way Of adjusting differences between
labor and capital without resorting to
strikes. Unfortunately the questions at
issue between the Steel Trust and its en-
ployes are of such character that neither
seems willing to make concessions, each
regarding the surrender of any part of its
contention as the abandonment of a vital
principle. So the contest will be fought
until one or the other of the combatants
is exhausted. In view of the Steel Trusts
resources, the chances are in its favor.
Even if it wins decisive victory, however,
1t may have cause in the next few years |
to regret that it forced the fight to a finish |
ian !