The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-04
SYMPATHETIC STRIKES.

The report that the National Building
Trades council will take steps to abolish
sympathetic strikes within its sphere of
influence evinces a disposition ON the
part CT that organization TO be fair in
its dealings with employers and the pub
lie. However keen our sympathy NAV
be for the cause of labor involved in q
struggle against the oppression of capi
tai we must draw the line at svmna-
thetic strikes. Never were there more
selfish, unjust and Revolutionary com
oonspiracies entered into against society
IN general than those connected with the
great sympathetic strikes that have On
several occasions paralyzed the business
Of sections of this country. Esoeciallv
IN this true in those cases where the
sympathetic strike involved vast trans
portation lines at the doors of which no
onense was laid, and in the various street
car strikes where boycott has been or
dered against all persons who chose to
pursue the even tenor of their way and
mind their own business.
In every strike there are three nart.es
involved, the strikers, the EMPLOYERS and
the public. When the strike is prolonged
the public is the principal sufferer. On
the public ultimately falls the burden NJ
caring for those who have been brought
to want by reason Of enforced idleness
as well as of paying for the loss to The
corporations against which the strike 10
directed
The great railroad strike in which
Debbs gained his notoriety was fruitful
Of much good. 1t demonstrated beyond
cavil the fact that sympathetic strike
however widespread, can never win. he
| cause its ruinous effects fall. not on Tho
object of union vengeance but upon the
innocent and unoffending A strike to be
successful must have the approval of the
public conscience. The code of ethics
upon which the theory Of a synnpathetio
strike is based is so unjust. so tvranrio.,
SO brutal in its workings that civilized
community will never be brought to sane
ton 1t. The boycott Is the twin of the
sympathetic strike and possesses the
same characteristics It is the most
co"ardly Of all the means that organiza-
tlon has invented to force its views upon
unorganized society. It Is the essence Of
brute force applied against general 81
ciety to accomplish selfish ends The
rights OF any and all citizens are invad
ed' their business broken up and their
families deprived of support, that an end
IN which they have no interest NAV he
accomplished. It is organized b1ackmau
Ior any body Of men to say to a merchant
do this or do that or we will break lin
your business. Any day one may see stick
ers on telegraph poles, doors and other
available public places DESIGNED to intura
some ore's business. What this mans
crime is no one knows He has not been
accused, neither has he had SO much as
a midnight trial where he could face bis
accusers. All that is made public is the
Judgment Of the inquisition.
The working Of the principle of the
boycott was well Illustrated In the street
car strikes of st. Louis and Cleveland
IN these cases as in all street car strikes.
the public was the party most interested.
Not content with quitting work and u.s.
ing all honorable or other means to pre-
vent others from working. the strike
Issued its decree that all who patronfzed
the street car service should Gel the