Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-07-06
STRIKES AND RIOTS.
A Study of One Phase of the Labor
Trouble.
Rev. Herbert n. Casson, a Prominent
Friend of Labor, Says the omin-
Gus Problem Has Not Received
Consideration II Deserves.

"Ihe Psychology OF olrlhe MOI
is the title of an article by herbert
n. Casson, which appeared IN recent
number of the New York independent.
Mr.. Casson' who was the 1ounuer %
the first Labor church III 'He Nul''N
States, has for the past Ten years o '
one of the strongest friends OF laooI
in the country. lie mas auNlSeu anu
conferred with the labor leaoerS III
many of the recent important s'rlNes
in the east, and IN more thah d ne"
cases has been chosen as their SpoheS-
man. He writes as follows
Why is there so much popular 81 III
pathy with the laWless acts OF S'LlNe' >
and their friends? Why are Soiuiers
Kissed and the police INSTRUCTED Nheh
they are called upon to queli lhe Iio'-
ing caused by labor disturbances
This omlnous problem has not re-
ceiyed the dispassionate study lhal IL
deserves. 1t is the general haplt TO oe-
mand, and rightly, that IaWlesShesS DC
instantly checked at all COSTS IL Is
neither timely nor advantageous W
discuss causes and modes oil proven
ton while the rioting IS IN progress
But when order has been restored II
is very necessary to make an lmpar''"
and thorough Investigations
The average American crowd Is ID"
abiding and ayerse to hooaluihiSh II
any form. 1t has no rooted ahupal ny
TO the military and the ponce as - 'n'
case in many European countries IT
loves excitement, but 1t is NOT oru'a
in its instincts 1t Is gener"llS leaoS
with its sympathy and assistance "ile'
either are needed ana mas away
strong sense of far play
Therefore, when Sucn scenes oee',
as those that were enacted III 'ne ~
bany strike, when lew wagon loau
of defenseless men were stoned merc'
lessly by large crowd eVlueh''S NO
composed OF the hoodlnm claSs' PloO
lem is presented which IS not easy u
solve, BY what CHAINS OF thouSn' AM
feeling do men become laWoreaNeI
in such social disturbances Nhat
the psychology OF strike rlo'' -
what means does an INDUSTRIOUS wage
worker become transformed INTO "
vioator OF the puohc peace
10 satisfactorily answer lheSe que'
tons, 1t is necessary 10 cohsloeF lhel
from the STANDPOINT OIL the STRIKER
themselves in the hrst place. II mus
be remembered what the outcome @
a strike means to Wage-earner' In
- success Of the strike does not mean
few more superhuous Injuries; lts lai
ure does not mean mere shrlhkae
of capital,
The strikers have given up their JOBS
they have become temporary Vagrant
without any means of support 10 WI
is to secure better conditions for Their
n selves and their families-better 100
" better clothes, better treatment. !
lose means absolute poverty, for
time at least, and the torturlng unce
tainty of unemployment.
The wage-worker in the city is Ian
less, homeless and practically trlen
less. His employers do not know hi
and in most cases would not allow HI
an interview. He knows that he coun
for nothing as separate indiyidui
~ In many cases he has even ceased
be a person-he has become a numbt
He has nothing to fall back upon c
cept his union.
1t is his union which places the CT
worker upon higher level than
horse or a machine Without organic
action the working people would
81 absolutely helpless against organic
| capital. Their wages and hours of
Dor would be fixed with very little
gard for their interests and none
their convenience. And during STIR
the very existence of their union is
stake. The organization which til
have built up after years of effort a
expense is threatened with compl'
destruction.
N Is it any wonder, therefore, that
strikers should feel fierce AYERS
Il to the nonunion outsiders who t.
their places? In many instances tn
nonunionists are professional "sca
- men who offer themselves for the
press purpose of breaking up stril
The strikers know many of them
name, and their records are pas
from one to another. For the s.
sS of double wages or cash bonus tn
d nonunionists lend themselves TEN
Y rarily to any employer whose men
Z on strike.
y These men are regarded by union
\ with the same fear and hatred as is
y for anarchists by the monarchs of
\ rope. Consequently, when one of Il
y is seen on the streets during a str
y this animosity, intensified into FIRE
y by the presence of crowd, breaks
X in acts of violence and disorder.
y who have hitherto been peaceable
\ dustrious wage-workers have b
y known to join in the attack upon IL
Y strike-breakers.
y Whether with or without reason,
Y fact that corporations, especi
y holding public franchises, are by
Y means popular in American eli
y They are denounced, not only by Ia
x organizations, and socialists, but
! -