Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-13
A Mail Street View OF the Strike.


In his weekly financial review. Henry
yClews says that Wall street is watch
ing the steel strike anxiously and that
its Influence is plainly felt there. IRIS
-hows how seriously capital views the
ouestion at issue. And Mr.. Clews at
tennis to tell what the question III
issue is. Most of us have had pretty
vague ideas of it, as have. no DOUBT
nine out of 10 of the strikers them
selves. 1t is not a question of wages
or hours The men are well employed
earning coed pay. and there IS no
suffering among them or their taml-
lies. Hence it is not strange that there
has not been so much public sympa-
thy given the strikers as on some oc-
,:asions in the past. Here Is MI.
,vevs' summary of the mysterious
issue involved The strikers wish to
compel the steel management to en-
niov union men at some OF us mltls.
whether il will or no. 1t aims TO solid
ify labor into a trust of the mightiest
ana most tyranncal sort and deprive
employers of their rightful liberty TO
cmploy union or non-union labor as
they see fit: to compel non-union men
to inin forces or lose their occupatloh-
In short. il aims to do nothing less
n
assume a dictatorship more tyrrani-
cal and dangerous than that eyer con
ceived by any combination of capital.
If successful there would be whole
sale migration Of capital. There may
J.. some trade combinations which pos
less bieo tionabie features. but none
whose managers have given thought TO
such unjust measures as the Amaisa-
mated Ascoc iltion is attempting
We su.poct that Mr.. CleWs is some
what ejudiccd and that he hardly
puts Tie side Of the strikers in as ad-
vantageous d light as one Of their
leaders might. 1t does not seem posi-
IL, that labor leaders would attempt
to force the employers to agree that
only union labor should be hired. If
this is all the strike is about it ought
to fail. promptly and completely. as
Mr.. Clews prophecies that it will. The
right of labor 10 organize is freely ad-
mitted. and the right of capital to
employ union or non-union labor or
any kind of labor that it sees fit,
should he equally beyond dispute. 1t is
hard to see where the fate of unionism
is at stake in this struggle.
Mr. Clews is unquestiOnably right in
asserting that labor is in need of wise
ana capable leaders. II has suffered
grieyously from reckless and malic-
ious dema gogues. men who for their
own ends preferred to stir up envy and
strife to seeking fair play and mutual
respect between employer ana en-
ploye OF late labor has put forth as
leaders men who meant well and men
whose personal character was beyond
reproach. but they have not been men
of high order of business or executive
ability. Usually they are sentimental
lists and signally untitled by nature to
lead in matters SO complex and practi-
cal as those surrounding modern in
dustry. Strikes rarely succeed: they
accomplish less than any other method.
In the vast majority of cases they in
lure rather than benefit the working
man. and labors chief progress in the
way of wages and hours has been
through the path Of rational negotia-
ton. If there We're more labor lead
ars with the ability and wisdom of
Chief Arthur of the Engineer 5
Brotherhood. our industrial history
would contain fewer dark spots than
it does: and better relations would eX-
list between capital and labor. The
more harmonious these become the
better for the country at large. and
public opinion should denounce those
who embitter the differences between
employer and employee Both sides
would gain by working on basis OF
mutual respect ana fair play.