The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-28
NEEnED-A MOSES.

Why doesn't the world bring forth a
Moses to lead civilization out OF It's
social troubles? Here it is. the second
year of the glorious twentieth century.
and labor conditions in the United
States and Canada so badly disturbed
that all the great industries are slowly
yielding to the spreading paralysis due
to economic disease.
This is particularly recognizable by
westerners when they remember that
the bouermakers on four Of the greatest
railroad systems of this section are out
on strike over the Santa Fe coast
lines. the Union Pacific. Great Northern
and Northern Pacific craftsmen of this
class are in great demand, and if the
disaffection continues a little longer all
viii feel the effects more or less strong
ly. The man who hauls on his over
clothes and climbs inside Of a hre-box
or a boiler shell may not be high
priced beauty when he energies from
the scene Of his labors, but the railroad
presidents have a fearful respect for
him He is a vital part Of the operating
end of The business, because the work Of
the railroad locomotive has for its basis
the boiler doing properly its duty. There
must be steam before the machinery
relationship of the boiler to the engine
is inseparable So that is no surprise to
an outsider to know that soon after It
became evident the boiler men were in
earnest on the Union Pacific. the main
shops all along the line were closed
machinists and blacksmiths were stop
ped from work.
The same thing came to pass in
slight degree on the Santa Fe. At San
BernardinO the railroad mechanical
plant was shut down for several days
not because the company was in-minded
toward its other craftsmen, but simply
because one part of the business could
not be run without the others moving.
And so it is going to a greater or less
extent on the other system strikes;
there will be other employees besides
those IN the boiler shop who win be
thrown out Of work.
But the aspect almost entirely over
looked is the consequence of such diff
culties to the outside world so greatly
at the mercy of the railroads and SO
dependent upon their successful opera
ton. Through the whole country the
steam railroad has become a CONNER
cial necessity and with its prostration
is carried injury and destruction TO
sible to say to whom the fault for the
present labor differences is chargeable;
no matter For it ordinarily requires
two parties to a quarrel. And assum-
ing that to be applicable in these cases.
which is fair, it should be urged upon
both sides that not only they, but like
wise thousands of others entirely dis
interested and in no way able to secure
redress or even lodge complaint are
damaged by strikes and Iockouts.
Whenever employers and employees be
gin to disagree this large fact should
loom up before them: that they are not
the only ones connected with the bust
ness, but that there are countless others
who are unrepresented.
No mention has been made of the
strikes in the great coal regions which
have involved thousands of miners. or Of
the Chicago teamsters' strike now hap
PLY ended. or of other disag reements
between the hirer and the hired None
Of them are quite so close home as
those which have been named, but they
have the same lesson reading through
out and if the eastern cities are visited
right now it win not be necessary to go
to either side in controversy to observe
effects.
1t is fine mental gymnastics for the
theorists to sit under their gas jets and
write themselves mad over the inequali-
ties of social matters, but 1t will not win
/ in a practical way. Let the man who
wants TO do his country and humanity
/ its greatest favor now come out and
bring the two components of Industrial
/ ism together so that this strife will be
administered its sedative. Let him come
/ forth