Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-06-26
Friday, june 90, 1908.
RICHMoND's CAR STRIKE.

RICHMOND city just now is strik-
ing example of the evils of strikes,
from which the South has been COM
paratively free. Without going into
the merits of the matter, of which
we know practically nothing, We
deprecate exceedingly the encroach-
ment of nothern ideas that are detri-
mental to peace between capital and
labor. AS the business interests of
our Southland grow space we sup
pose the evil attendants must be
accepted. Richmond is dealing reas-
onably well in the tie-up of her car
lines, and notwithstanding the fear
full blow to business, the hardships
endured by her itinerauts and the
general depression accompanying
such big strikes her people are tax
ing it philosophically and all seem
determined that nothing rash or
high-handed shall take place if pos
sible to prevent.
To this day our people generally
are favorable to labor, but not so
much as formerly to labor unions,
The abuses that have crept into the
management of unions in recent
years have estranged many who were
at one time ardent supporters of
labor organizations. Few of them
now have such conservative and wise
men as Mitchell, of the coal miners,
at their head. Pity it is not
otherwise. Most of the officers of
the unions now seem to be rest
less unless they are conducting a
strike, and to the walking delegate"
more than any other one dignitary
is due the multitude of strikes in
recent years. He is practically an
Othello without an occupation unless
a strike is going on. But the unions
have gradually drawn the lines
around rules for work until hated
capital has to resist to preserve it's
equilibrium. Many worthless arti-
san gets into the union whose aim in
life seems to be to create discussion
between employee and employers. If
not a skilled mechanic and his en-
ployer is dissatisfied with him the
chances are that he will raise such a
rumpus when discharged that his
union will order the others to walk
out. In short, to- keep off a strike,
oftentimes employers have to bear
with worthless characters until for
bearance is threadbare. In other
words, In large measure the en-
ployer is no longer master of his
actions and his money when it
comes to such pass, as 80 frequently
1t does. We have ever been a friend
OF labor; We believe capital is over :
bearing and needs as much COR
recting as do the faults in the
labor people, but until the union
acts more conservatiyely, more with
regard to the rights of others it
cannot have the full sympathy that
the labor cause deserves. 1t is not
only trampling upon the rights of
capital, but it is putting neutral
classes to trouble and incon venience,
not to say expense and hardship
as witness the coal strike of last
year. Other labor organizations,
too, are made subservient to the
presumably injured one. Richmond
today is an example of what ex-
tremes these are carried to. About
every labor union in that city
has issued DEGREES that none of it's
members shall ride on a Car of the
striking lines. Fines from So to $40
are imposed on any man of trades
union if found riding upon street
car during the car strike. EN-
ployees in other branches are forced,
In many cases, to walk miles to and
from work, to their detriment in loss
of time and sleep. Such things are
eminently high handed and cannot
be countenanced by conservative
people.