Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-20
Public Opinion on Iowa Subjects
as Reflected in the Iowa
Newspapers.
The News Of Iowa From Hun
dreds Of Differeut Towns
end Communities.

!
dreds of Differeut Towns
end Communities.
DISGRUNTLED EDITORS.
IScranton Journal
The Iowa City Republican and the
Ninton Eagle seem to take great pleas
ure in continuing their warfare upon
Governor Cummins. They prod at him
every time he appears in public. They
evidently get solace out of their con-
duct and 1t affects Governor Cummins
about as much as a mosquito would
affect the Mississippi river by plunging
it's bill into the same. They take their
medicine, but they make a horribly wry
face about it. II these poor, disconso-
late, disgruntled editors could but see
themselves as others see them they
would go away back and sit down. They
are just now being disturbed in their
sleep by the speech which Governor
Cummins made at Minneapolis. That
speech is just such an advanced step as
James G. Blaine took when he ,advo-
Gated reciprocity, and it is destined to
sDSSolilS even lllOIe poputai. ~ 10 uiiNSi
pinned with the eternal principles OF
truth and justice.
THE SYMPATHETIC STRIKE.
ISioux City Journal
It is curious fact that the most fire.
quent, extensive and violent strikes us
ually occur during periods Of the high
est prosperity. It was when Jeshurun
waxed fat that he kicked. When there
IS work for everybody at good wages, as
now, the workers naturally think it is
their best chance to secure better
wages and better terms. As in all such
controversies between wage-earners
and their employers. neither side is al
ways entirely right or entirely wrong.
That there should be some way of set
Ting them without resort to strike is
the most commonplace of truisms. and
yet all the wisdom of legislators, OF
statesmen and h,imanitarians has been
unable as yet to devise any method OF
adjudicating such disputes which is
satisfactory to both sides.
The strike, tho under existing condi-
tions often necessary to the just rights
and interests of labor, is not good
way to reach equitable results. For 1t
is costly to both sides; it is essentially
cne-s sided, and is often an appeal to
force. But there Is no Justification for
the sympathetic strike. Take the case
of the anthracite miners. They ask for
some advance in wages and for limiting
the days work to eight hours. But
there are minor and secondary items in
their bill Of complaint. They insist on
the recognition of their union and that
all contracts shall be made with the
union instead of with the individual
workers. This is the central issue of the
contest. Over $4,000 miners are in
volved in the dispute, OF whom large
minority do not approve the strike
preferring peace with the comfortable
wages they now have to war with no
wages at all. When so large proper
ton of the strikers as So per cent was
opposed to the strike 1t is safe infer
ence that their grievances are not in
tolerable. and that, if there is ever any
justification of sympathetic strike,
there is none in this instance.
The strike of the anthracite coal min
ers, even If extended no farther, will
entail great pecuniary loss on the inn
mediate parties to the contest, While 1t
will greatly damage great many
dependent and related interests. The
whole country will suffer from the In
creaser cost both of anthracite and BIZ
luminous coal. But if they should sue
coed in bringing about sympa theuc
strike of the bituminous coal miners 1t
would paralyze nearly all the industries
and commert1, of the country. 1t would
tie up furnaces, mills and factories and
railroads and throw millions of wage
earners out of employment. The losses
thus inflicted on the country at large
would be incalculable. That 1t should
be possible thru the sympathetic strike
to thus stop the wheels of industry and
trade thruout the country and inlet
immeasurable disaster on many mill
ions having not the remotest connec-
ton with the dispute is simply mon
strous. A foreign foe, even If all the
broad land lay PROSTATE under the feet
of his invading armies. could not in a
years campaign of conquest and devas-
tation inflict a 1.-THE of the damage on
the American people that would result
from the extinction of the steam power
Of this country for a few weeks. But
IL
rules of civilized war, would spare all
non combatants from the fury OF his
desolating war. The sympathetic strike
spares nobody, but wages an indis-
eliminate warfare upon all within its
reach, in the full knowledge that It's
victims have not the remotest RESPONSE
bility for or connection with the griev-
ances complained of and are utterly
powerless to remedy them.
In the absence of any effective means
Of Cancellation or of arbitration the
strike, we repeat, is often justifiable
and even necessary as a protection to
the interests of labor; but the sympa-
thetic strike-never The latter has
but one possible use and that is to
arouse public sentiment to the vital
need of some means of adjusting these
controversies between capital and labor
on an equitable basis, and at the same
time of protecting the community at
large from being made suffering par
ties to a conflict with which 1t has no
| connection.
Holds up a Congressman.
"At the end of the campaign" writes
Champ Clark Missouris brilliant con-
gresham, from overwork, nervous
tension, loss of sleep and constant
speaking l had about utterly collapsed.
+t,+ tho g., 49,,