Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-20
HOW STRIKES AFFECT POLITICS.
A Few illustrations Taken from Re
cent History.
Leslle's Weekly (rep.O

Leslie's Weekly (rep)
Let the republican party beware OF the
effects Of the coal strike in the congress
sional canvass OF 1902. Strikes have an
ugly habit Of registering themselves in ma
tional politics and they hit the party which
is in power at the time. This has been
the experience of the United States In all
the great labor conflicts. The first OF
these took place in 1877. That was the year
of the great railroad strikes throughout the
east and middle west, in which there was
rioting in Pittsburg, Chicago and many
other places. Hayes was then president
and the republicans were the dominant
party. In the congressional election OF
1878. the first important canvass which
came after the strike. the republicans were
beaten. In the strike OF the Gould sys-
tenn Of railroads, in 1886, which lasted
many weeks and which was under the d.
rection of Martin Irons, great destruction
Of property took place and many cities, In
GLIDING st. Louis and Kansas City, were
terrorized. That was during Cleveland's
first term. Consequently 1t was the demo-
Gratis who were hit then. In the congress
sionaI election Of that year the republicans
did not carry congress-, but they reduced the
democratic majority to comparatively small
figures. Some Of the democrats afterward
said that the strike OF 1886 had something
to do with Cleveland's defeat for re-elec-
ton in 1888.
The experience of 1892 is near enough to
be remembered by every voter. The Home
stead strike Of the year, affecting the Car
negie steel works, figured with decided
prominence in the campaign which began
just as the strike was lending. Cleveland
was then running the third time and for
his second term and his opponent was
President Harrison, who was seeking re-
election. Several things were assigned by
the democrats after the canvass was over
for Cleveland's brilliant victory in 1892, in
which he gained a majority OF 1872 votes
in the electoral college. The Mckinley
tariff OF 1890 was one OF these causes. The
Sherman silver law Of the same year was
another. The republicans themselves. how
ever, lay the blame of their defeat to the
Homestead strike.
When the coal miners first and the en-
ployes Of the Pullman company afterward
began their strike in the early half Of 1894,
in Cleveland's second term, the political
horizon suddenly darkened for the demo-
Gratis, who controlled congress as we'll as
the presidency. The fate Of the republicans
in the strike of 1892 was cited in 1894 as
an omen Of the things which were to come
TO the democrats when the people went to
the polls. Nor did the omen fall. The re-
publicans won congress in 1894 by the most
sweeping victory which any party ever
gained in a contest for the national legis-
lature.
In 1902 It is the republicans who are In
power during the year OF a great labor con-
hiet. Senator Scott Of West Virginia, a
stalwart republican. says that the strike
may cost his party three congressman in
his state and several in Pennsylvania.
With the drift, as It is, against the re-
pubIieans for other causes the outlook for
the dominant party is far from being rosy,
The coal miners lockout may register itself
In politics in November with a decisiveness
which may surprise the country and con-
found the republican party