The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-08-14
7 he Steel Strike.

With either OF the parties in the
strike of the steel workers there is little
popular sympathy. The giant steel
corporation is not entirely an object of
sentimental regard. The strikers are
making demand that is repugnant to
the American idea of liberty. 1t is a
demand that ought not to be granted
1t is opposed to the interests both of
American industry and Of the strik-
ers themselves, as American working
men.
The demand of the strikers conflicts
with the inalienabe rights of men,
whether the men are laborers or capi-
talists or manufacturers or the pursuers
OF any other calling. The striking Or
ganization demands the right to organ
ize labor unions in mills operated by
non-union men, but denies the right of
the owners of mills operated by union
men to employ therein non-union men.
The manufacturers do not deny the
right of labor to organize. They place
no restrictions upon the organization
of laborers for their own Interests.
They do not refuse to employ union
men, and they do not discriminate
against such laborers. They refuse to
assent to the opposite proposition, that
they shall employ only union men, and
shall compel non-union employees to
join the union or be discharged if they
decline to join. This is an entirely un-
reasonable demand, irreconcilable with
the American idea of the rights of men,
and the manufacturers refuse to accede.
The striking laborers are the skilled
workmen of the steel producing indus
try. They are paid the highest wages
OF any class Of artisans, varying from
$500 or $500 day to $500 or $1,000,
according to the scale and capacity for
production. The question at issue does
not touch the matter Of wages or hours
Of labor, or any similar conditions.
1t refers solely to demand that is
opposed to every consideration Of right
and equality. Whatever may be
ones adherence Of trusts, he cannot
desire to see this demand enforced
against the steel makers OF Pittsburg
and vicinity. The enforcement would
not end there, or with the steel in
dustry. The triumph of this demand
would be the entering wedge for union
izing all branches Of industry, through
out the country, and in the end labor
would be the worst sufferer from the
folly and intemperance OF it's leaders.
Its triumph would be to sound
retreat to the industrial forces that are
invading that long sought objective of
American industry, "the markets of
the world" A similar triumph OF
trades-unions in England has contri-
buted to the victory OF the American
manufacturers over their British com.
petitors in the many important in
stances the press has been publishing
in recent years.
If this were strike OF underpaid OF
overtasked laborers for better condi
tons, for wages that should support
their families in a manner becoming
citizens Of self-governing republic
to educate their children properly, If i
we're strike for hours of labor com
5 mensurate with the strength of the la
c borer, or for the Improvement of an,
: similar moral or physical conditions
4, the public sympathy would be on tn
side Of the strikers, and they ought t
: win, and probably would secure a rec
Il ognition of any reasonable demand
Such strike might be in line with tn
, principles of the Declaration of IndC
G pendence, but the demand a part {
j. organized labor is now making and
8 the enforcement OF which other d,
l. partments of labor will be summoned
y by sympathetic strikes, to contribut
: is another thing entirely. Its fund
mental object is dead against the De