The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-11
TIE Use STATED.

The die is cast. War is declared in the
iron and steel industries; and it is a
war which may extend throughout the
entire American industrial world. The
declaration has been followed by acts of
hostility. which show that in all proba-
hility neither combatant will cease until
it is beaten to its knees in defeat
The declaration just issued by Presi-
dent Gompers, of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, is like all the other pro-
nouncements which have been made in
this difficulty. 1t is written by a mailed
fist, and with many fourishes. 1t diff
fers from the others in that it makes a
slight and passing reference to the rights
of the public in the transaction.
1t has not been vouchsafed to the pub
lie to know much if anything as to the
real nature of the difficulty existing.
Now, We have at least one side of the
controversy.
The case of the Amalgamated people,
as stated by Mr.. Gompers, is about as
men that the union scale should be
adopted in all the mills operated by the
trust While that proposition was under
consideration it was withdrawn by it's
authors, and for it was substituted
another asking that the union scale
should be adopted only in those mills in
which Amalgamated members were en-
ployed, or. in other words, in union
mills alone. This was refused. The one
proposition, it will be seen, is, for all
practical purposes, the reverse Of the
other
So far as the public is now permitted
to know the issue is here Whether the
union scale would have been extended to
all mills, as asked, the public will never
know. What the steel trust may say on
the subject when its couuterstatement
is issued may be accepted as intended
to favorably influence the situation and,
unless attended by proof, may be dis
missed.
1t is not necessary to inquire why the
men withdrew their first proposition.
The reason assigned by President Com
pers does not on its face appear reason
able. 1t is not improbable that it was
discovered that a. tactical mistake was
made in Offering such a proposition, and
it was accordingly withdrawn For the
present the reason assigned by Mr..
Gcmpers for it's withdrawal must be ac-
cepted, which is that it was an i'm
pertinence on the part of the Amalga-
mated society to undertake to dictate
terms as to men over whom they exer-
cised no jurisdiction.
For the first time in the prevailing con-
troversy, the public is appealed to. Had
the difficulties been peacefully adjusted
the public would not be invited into the
confidence of either of the parties in in
terest. Why then should the public be
expected TO take sides at the present
stage OF the affair?
The answer to this is, ON the one side,
becau@c it is sought to Kill off union la
Dor. On the other hand the answer will
be, that the men want to control indus
tries in which extensive capital is invest
ed by their employers and in which they
have no ownership whatever.
The disposition of the ordinary citizen
will be to sympathize with the men in
this controversy. The right of men to
organize for any legitimate purpose in
industrial or social life can never be sue
cessfully gainsaid in this land aus long
as our liberties are preserved to US. But
the light of a man to conduct his own
business in his own way is a right cor
respondinsly sacred.
The Globe does not accept the cor
rectness of either view. 1t does not be-
lieve that the cause of labor orgamiza-
ton is involved. Neither does it believe
that the men want to run the business of
tho trust. 1t is purely a personal or class
disagreement reached in controversy in
which each side was seeking the best of
a bargain. They failed to agree; and they
4'N' NNAAAS AOA W eAAO ~ iIiliu6IlCG puDllC
opinion in favor of themselves respective
~ Probably when either has exhausted
its resources of brute force, it will con-
sent to accept the terms of the other.
Before reaching any definite conclusion
as to the merits OF this controversy, it
will be well for the thoughtful citizen to
await something more definite and spe-
cific than has yet been made public. The
steel trust may in time present it's side
OF the case. For the present it may be
safely assumed that the removal of
the Devices wood plant at McKeesport.
and the declaration made by President
Gompers of the intention of his order to
sustain the Amalgamated body to the
end, mean the approach of terrific and
prolonged combat. in which the rights of
the consuming public will be practically
disregarded by both sides
Whatever may be the outcome, it is
to be hoped that the men will have suf-
fciently wise guidance in their policy to
avoid violence at all hazards. If they