Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-08-07
TO CRUSH THE LABOR TRUST.
tFrom the Springfield Republican,,

tfTOH inc opTlnBuelu ItepuDlCHn.l
The steel strike Is now nearly a
month old 1t has been noteworthy so
far for the number of conferences
held between representatives of em-
ployers and employed, and for the ap-
parently earnest effort made by both
parties to reach peaceful adjustment
OF differences. These efforts have
finally come to nothing, and the Sat.
urday conference at New York broke
up with some display of temper and
an evident determination on both
sides to fight the case to n finish in
the old way and regardless of the
consequences to the public peace and
prosperity.
Thus Is threatened an industrial war
which In immediate promise must be
regarded as the greatest and most
momentous yet encountered in the
United States. The organization of
the largest combination OF capital ever
known inevitably invited equally COM
prehenslve efforts to amalgamate la.
Dor to the end of maintaining some
balance In power between the two in.
dustrlal factors. These efforts seem
to have met resistance more or less
yelled from the combination of capital
and hence the collision which now
threatens to broaden out into most dis
turbing proportions.
The trust officials have, according
to the dispatches, wired word to the
constituent companies that IL is to be
fight to the nnish," and that the
Amalgamated Association Is to be
wiped out" And the Amalgamated
officials intend to extend the strike
tC all the companies in the trust hay
ing union men at work. Some 165,00(
men will thus be brought directly
into the trouble, and 100000 other
trust employees will be more or less
affected. On the day that the strik,
takes this unfortunate turn the dis
patches tell OF It's assuming vlolen
forms In Ohio.
1t III difficult to escape the convic
tion that the steel trust has aimed
from the outset to rid itself of all un
ion labor dlctation or power and /,
do this II must of course crush tn,
union and reduce all its workmcn {,
the state OF individual contract. L
this Is not the essential issue involved
then an entirely inadequate state
ment OF fact has so far been mad
public. 1t is needless to say tha
upon such n question popular sym
pathy will on the whole lean in fayo
OF the strikers as long as they keep TIN
peace,
Nevertheless, 1t is almost foregon
conclusion that the trust will win 1
permitted by the public authority /,
carry matters ITO finish" Ii is tn
mlghtiest power that has ever yet an
peared In the field of capitalism, an,
its ability TO crush any possible com
|. blnation of labor can only he llmltc,
apparently by its unwillngness l.
: meet tho costs of the operation an
/, its further unwlllingness to arous
q more deeply hostile public opinion
These costs at present must he hcavS
for 1t Is time of great prospcrit
with the. trust; but the union has IN
!, sisted upon forcing the issue at thl
particular time, ana IL unionism wa
to be resisted at ALL little choice wa
left to the trust save TO take up Ia
question now.
~ Unionism may thus meet with AZ
. other crushing blow, but the tru.
will have succeeded at the same tim
in deepening the popular convictlo
that here is power too great to |
= left wholly to the caprices of prlvat
=" "" interest or the propensities of corp6
," ate greed.
To TRY THE DEMOCRATS LINE
" COLUMNS.