The times., 1901-06-18

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! as much credit as the one who would
| dare the same dangers to save life.
Labor Troubles in san Francisco.
/ Strikes upon an extended scale are
always serious manifestations for the
strikers themselves, serious for the en-
! ployers, and serious for the communi-
ties as d whole in which they occur.
! Thus. We are informed by the press
dispatches that the strikes recently in
+ augurated in San Francisco, and which
are still in progress, have already cost
the strikers four hundred thousand dol
! lars, the employers an equal sum in
loss of profits. and disappearance Of
at least two hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars from general circulation
on the face of this statement it APP
pears tharthe strikers and their en-
ployers have suffered equally; but
! glance below the surface discloses the
fact that the equality is only seeming.
In its effect upon the individual there
is a vast difference between a loss of
wages and a loss Of profits. The for
mer frequently entails actual suffering,
the latter generally no suffering at all.
Among wage workers, many of whom
live from hand to mouth, the loss of
four hundred thousand dollars means
vastly more than it does to the en-
pioyers. who are oTly conscious of the
effect upon them when they consult
the fgnes of their bank accounts.
Tris does not argue that there never
should be any strikes, but it does sug-
gest clearly and forcefully that strikes
should only be inaugurated as dernier
Resorts. and that every point in con-
troversy should be calmly and dispas-
sionately weighed by the wage work
ers before they deliberately cut off their
own earrings and subject themselves
TO losses which they may never be able
TO make good.
In San Francisco, as recently in Day
ton. Ohio. the main point in issue is
the recognition Of the unions by the
employers. TIE strikers insist that
such recognition is essential for their
protection, while the employers claim
that 10 extend the recognition is vir-
tuaHy 30 surrender the control of their
own properties. Obviously this makes
the issue a grave one. On the one hand
the right Of wage earners to protect
| themselves in every reasonable and
proper way cannot, in fairness, be de-
| MED: on the other, the right Of the
owner of property to control it and
manage it in his own way is a natural
right that should never be infringed un-
less the right is exercised in an unjust
and oppressive manner.
As the matter stands in San Fran
cisco there seems 10 be a good deal of
, theoretical contention on both sides.
The employers have conceded the sub
stantial demands of the strikers with
reference 10 wages and the hours Of
labor, but refuse to recognize the
unions for the reasons already stated
The strikers decline to be satisfied with
the advance Of wages and the shorten
ing Of the hours Of labor. insisting that
If the unions are not recognized they
(the strikers win not be safe here
after There is no end TO the argument
Of these points when thus presented in
the abstract. The only satisfactory way
of dealing with the questions involved
is by taking each individual case as it
arises, and dealing with it upon its own
merits. If, in a given instance, the
employers are treating their employees
unjustly. public sympathy win be with
the men who are wronged; but if, in
any case. the unions 90 too far in their
attempts al dictation. public opinion is
very likely 10 be against them.
The strikers in San Francisco may
have good reasons for making the
recognition Of the unions a condition
precedent TO the termination of the
strike: but, as they have already sue
ceeded in forcing a compliance with
their substantial demands without the
recognition of the unions, it rather
looks to the general public as if the
same thing might be done again,
whether the unions are actually recog-
nized or not. But the practical ques-
tions involved are whether the strik-
ers can ultimately win upon the issue
as 1t has developed in San Francisco,
and if they can, whether the victory
win be an equivalent for the sacrifices
made to secure 1t. At this time the out
come of the contest can scarcely be
foraSpeu