The Saint Paul globe., 1901-08-06
4 srJIPArHETrc STRIKE POSSIBLE


From present indications The public is
liable to be caught between the upper
and neither miHstones of the trusts. The
ball has been opened by the great Anal
eamated labor trust insisting upon die
tatiag to the great steel trust whom it
shall employ in its numerous mills This
contest between the trusts is of no con-
Germ to the general public, so long as it
Goes not interfere with the normal con-
dtion OF things. SO far, the steel strike
has Inconvenience no one except the
operators. The question whether all the
men employed in the mills of the steel
trIst shall be union men, is fer the men
and the steel trust to decide among them
selves We are informed that the fight
on the part of the Amalgamated trust
TO compel the steel trust to come to it's
terms and unionize all the mills will be
fought to finish. We are also inform
ed that the steel trust will spend money
and time to maintain it's right to employ
union men should that be deemed
desirable. AS to the abstract rights Of
the two positions, we all have our own
individual opinions, but these individual
opinions are of no concern to the public.
This Amalgamated trust has a right to
make the steel trust yield to its demands
ii it can DO so without disturbing the
general public interest. The steel trust
has 1iebt to ,.of,,.o - ,oao7o - a..
demands of the Amalgamated trust and
make an attempt to run its mills with
non-union labor so long as the strikers
choose to remain out. About these prop
ositions there can be no controversy.
The dispatches, however, indicate that
the Amalgamated, not confident of it's
own strength, viii call for help from
other and related labor trusts; that the
Ohio Mine Workers and similar labor or
carnations viii be asked to declare sym
pathetic strikes To what end will these
organizations strike? Have they any
grievance against their employers? Have
they any wrongs that need redress? No.
The only object will be to so tie up gen
eral business; to so disarrange the ordi-
nary routine Of the life of the people.
that TO save the business situation from
utter collapse, the original demands upon
the steel trust will be acceded to. Should
such a combination of the labor trusts
conclude to act, it will be nothing more
or less than a gigantic business hold
up, until the steel trust is made to dis
gorge the demands of the Amalgamated.
Anticipating a disagreement between
the steel trust and the Amalgamated the
officers Of the Ohio Mine Workers had
meeting Aug. 2 and gave out the follow
ing authorized statement:
THE miners of Ohio have been and are
row ready to assist all classes Of or
ganized labor. We have an agreement
with Ohio operators which expires April
l. 1902, but If the so-called trusts or large
corporations are going to use the injunc-
ton for the purpose of defeating other
labor organizations in their contention for
justice and fair share Of the results of
these large Industries, we are not able to
predict what policy the miners will pur-
sue.
1t is safe TO say that we will be found
willing and ready at all times to take such
action as will conserve the best interests
OF the steel workers. and not only them,
but other labor organization" "
This is a typical manifesto, and no
doubt was given out to influence the ac-
tion of the conference of last Saturday.
While its terms read fair-that justice
and a fair share of the earnings of the
great corporations Is all that is desired
it closes with pledge to assist the steel
workers who have no grievance, but are
striking as matter of policy This an
nouncement is peculiar in another fea-
ture 1t admits an existing contract
with the mine operators which does not
expire until next April, and yet they VIII
Oe found ready and willing at all times
10 assist not only the steel workers but
all other labor organizations.
There is little question that the result
of the present conflict will determine for
time at least the status of the labor
trust Mr. Shaffer and his associates
have undertaken herculean task-the
control of the industrial world
Should they succeed. it will mean the
absolute supremacy cf the labor trust
trust with power to enter into the
Individual lives of free American citizens
and say who shall have a chance to earn
living and who shall not; trust with
power to paralyze the arm of enterprise
and render industrial progress imposs.-
bic
If the strike remain confined to the
steel workers, the public Will remain in
different, but should it develop along the
sympathetic line to the coal fields, and
raise the price of fuel or to the trans
poriat'o on lines and tie up the traffic of
IL" conn ry, prevent the moving of the
Western crops and blast our present
prosp Tty in it's bloom. drastic measures
viii AVE to be used to put an end to
Mh@' fo- tet:er rama. are called sym
pathetic strikes.
The gre test evils that are threatening
the United states TODAY, com, from the
twin trusts Of labor and capita Between
the wo there is little or no hoice. II