Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-05
THE STRIKE SITUATION.

An hope Of nm early settlement Of the
trouble between the steel corporation
and the Amalgamated association Of la
borers. now seems gone Both sides ap-
pear to be equally determined to hght
TO finish, and with The resources at
their command the struggle is likely
TO be prolonged AZ one time IT ap-
peared probable that compromise
could be reached on a just basis, The
mills were to retain the right q employ
non-unon labor, while, on the other
hand, the union leaders were 10 have
the right to organize the employees VINO
could be persuaded to Join the unions
by peaceful means. This should have
been satisfactory to all interested. such
an arrangement would have recognized
the rights Of all concerned. II would
have admitted the right Of the non
union laborer to sell his labor-a right
which presumably still Is indIsputable
IN this country Of liberty and equality
But the leaders Of the strikers seem
TO hold that the interests Of the unions
demand further concessions on the part
OF the corporation. mo quarter Is to
be given, and meme viii be requested"
President shafter VIII call out every
man connected with the association,
and he feels confident that the trust
win be brought to terms. In his view,
the question Is whether unlonism rs to
stand or fall" and therefore, there can
be no compromise, only complete sur
render by one party or the other.
Probably he is correct in characterize
Ing the contes, as one for the principle
OF trade unionlsm. But beyond that
question there are others Of greater i'm.
portance stlll. Suppose It were possl-
bic for the strike leaders TO stop every
wheel in the corporation mills, anu
ruin the steel industry Of the country.
even temporarily. What would be the
effect? The export Of American steel
products would be stopped. The for.
eigr competitors would regain much or
their lost trade. The advanced place
this country has gained by hard labor,
would De lost, for the time being.
Then. after a while, the strike would
be over The men would be looking foi
work, but there would be less 70 be had.
With the foreign demand for our prod
,ucts diminished, there would not be
employment for so many workingmcn,
end some Of the strikers would neces
sariiy be compelled to look for other
employment. That this Is not merely
idle speculation, Is evident from the
fact that English and German trade
journals are already cxultant
over the labor troubles In this
country. They know that lost
trade Is hard 10 regain. and
that. unless this country can supply the
demands for Its products, II cannot
long hold the field against competition.
Both strikers and employers ought
70 consider TINS side or the question. In
the higher interests Of the entire
country, the minor differences ought to
be adjusted az speedily as possible.
There Is no doubt, II the contest is pro-
longed, the trust interests viii be SER
iously injured. but the laborers viii
suffer too. and the entire country VIII
share In the depression that Is almost
sure TO follow, Let common sense pre-.
ynll. Heavy orders. Il Is said, now
await the resumption Of work. The
iron, steel and tin workers win share
IN the prosperity growing out OF the ex-
ocution Of thcse orders. while, in the
long run. they win feel the losses most,
II such orders are 70 be given to the
manufacturers OF other countries,