The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-23

result, even II only for short time. In an
outburst of wild speculation, moro harm
than good would Be done. !.
A great many people. perhaps people OF
the investing rather than Of the speculative
class, are troubled over the labor situation.
No sooner does one great strike or series
of strikes cease than others take their
place. The fact might as well Do confessed
that most OF these strikes have been sue
cessful. Employers have been forced to
oopcede tho conscienceless and. from q
broad point Of view. ct upid demands OF
the labor unions That is, few employers
felt like closing their business long enough
at this very profitable time to enable them
to win In a contest with their men. Yet the
concessions made by the employers. In
stead OF quieting extortion, have given It
fresh life. II has, - the weekly and
monthly statements OF railroad earnings
and those OF industrial corporations show,
cut SO deeply into the profits Of many
lines OF business that the permanence OF
current dividends In many cases 10
in question. Moreover. II has inspired
the labor unionists With the desire to carry
their operations into newer and broader
fields, where not simply the pocketbooks
Of their employers are emptied, but the
security OF the whole industrial life OF the
country Is threatened. The statement was
often heard In Wall Street last week that
the labor situation was looking better. This
seems rather q queer Wow to take In view
Of such conditions a. are now prevailing
at Waterbury, conditions which are
viewed with ill-ooncealed delight by
Thousands Of labor unionists all over
the country. A strike may. perhaps.
be averted on the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad system. but only
by an increased expenditure on the part OF
the railroad company which. as all familiar
with its recent annual reports are aware. 1t
can poorly afford to make. Similar demands
to those made by the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad employees are under
stood to be impending on the Boston and
Albany road In San Francisco another
general street car strike is said to be near
at hand, recalling ugly memories OF that OF
few years ago. Newspaper despatches
indicate that q strike Of all the textile work.
ers in Lowell must be said to be moro
than possible. Had II not been for the use
Of the legal process Of injunction, a general
strike Of the employees Of the Wabash
road would now be in progress; and the fact
must be admitted that the issue OF this
writ, while most proper and necessary and
sanctioned by the highest precedent, has
still not improved the relation between
capital and labor in our country. In our
own city. the building trade. always the
subject Of labor union harsssment. is now
considering the demands OF newly formed
teamsters union, which. II they are fully
accorded. will drive many men In the trade
out Of business. The evil thing about the
matter il not 30 much the excessive money
payments insisted upon by employees, ruin
GUS as they are. as the sweeping extension OF
the boycott, the interference with the free
dom OF labor, the general declaration Of
war upon society that has been made.
Meantime Presidential election Is coming
on in which the votes OF these lawbreakers
will be sought for by political parties and
their leaders made much Of by men high in
Office. Wall Street Is not the only place In
the country that should take thought Of these
things. DANIEL F. KELLOGG.