The Washington times., 1901-07-15
Circulation Statement.
The steel strike.


The whole country has reason to
deeply regret the failure of the Nor
gan Steel Trust, and its subsidiary, the
Tin Trust, to compose their differences
with the Amalgamated Association of
Iron, Steel. and Tin Workers. Up to
today there was every reason for be-
lieving that a spirit OF concession would
dominate the conference at Pittsburg,
and that. both parties to the controver-
sy being anxious for peace, modus
vivendi would easily be found. That
optimistic idea has been rudely shat
tered by the news that the meeting was
a failure and that not less than sixty
thousand operatives of the Steel Trust
have been ordered on strike, the order
to become effective this morning.
1t goes without saying that, in ordi-
nary circumstances public sympathy is
with the working classes in cases where
they have a real grievance. Whether
justifiably or not this is particularly
true when the hosts of labor are aligned
in battle array against trusts. In the
anthracite coal strike of a year ago
orable to the men was considerably pro-
NOTED by undeniable evidence that TIE
cause and course of the strikers were
approved by popular opinion. The an
thracite miners had genuine reason for
complaint of their treatment by the
coal magnates, and the justice of their
position in effect was recognized by the
Republican National Committee, who,
through their Chairman, Senator Han
ma, used every available means to Sc
cure a settlement satisfactory to the
miners, fearing that if that were not
accomplished, the labor issue might be
the means of defeating Mr. Mckinley
for reelection. When an agreement
was reached, everybody in the United
States was glad. 1t gave the workers
measurably what they asked, and it
presented the lesson that there are
rights and equities which even a mo-
nopoly is sometimes compelled to re-
spect
The present case is different, and in
connection with it we doubt if public
sympathy will be on the side of the
strikers. On the face of the returns it
appears that the Amalgamated Asso-
citation has demanded more than any
dispassionate person would agree that
the trust ought to be asked to con-
cede. The point of difference is not one
OF wages. In fact, there is no quarrel
on that score. The Morgan people have
exhibited complete willingness to grant
the scale presented to them. They have
even been willing to allow the Anal
gamated Association to go into any and
all of their mills, and, if they could, to
induce non-union workingmen to join
their organization. Such a concession,
one would think, ought to be sufficient
to dispose of all obstacles to an ami
cable solution, but it has not so operat-
ed. The representatives of the AS
sociation at the conference started in
with an ultimatum demanding that it
should be recognized as the controlling
force over not only union, but non-un-
ion mills, and on that account the ne
gotiations came to naught
The trust insisted, and we think
righteously. that to bow to such a die
tum would be tantamount to ordering
outside workingmen to join the union.
This Mr.. Morgens people positively re-
fused to do. and there the books were
closed. President Shaffer, of the Anal
gamated Association, and his advisers
do not emerge from the incident with
like flying colors. On the con-
trary, they present themselves to the
public in an indefensible attitude Their
employers have shown no disposition
to persecute organized labor. They
have offered TO throw all their mills and
shops open to walking delegates and
labor organizers of all sorts and con-
ditions. They simply have rejected the
proposition to force men who do not |
want to Join the union to do so. In
adopting that policy they are American
and right. II would be restrictive of
the rights Of free citizenship to say that
a man should not join a labor organiza-
ton. 1t is no less so to compel him to
do SO. We are sorry that the strike has
been ordered 1t viii tend to demor-
alize business conditions at juncture
when they should be religiously con-
served. But IL is not necessary TO dis
count trouble in this case. The strike
is unjustifiable. If persisted in, it will
lead to troubles which might and
should have been avoided. Shaffer and
his colleagues have assumed a grave !
responsibility. We are greatly mis-
taken If they do not regret their precip- |,
itate action before they are ninety days !
older.