New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-22
RrSsIAN sTRIKEs ANp RUSSIAN Tvs.

RUSSIAN STRIKES AND RUSSIAN LAWS.
The industrial disturbances in Southern Rus
sia which have already resulted in the killing
of hundreds and the wounding of thousands OF
workmen by the troops, are of long standing,
and the end is not yet. The strikers have III
many cases resOrted to ineXcusable acts OF vlo-
lence, for which they deserve severe punish
ment On the other hand, the best Russian
opinion seems to be that the government has a t
times been fundamentally hasty and harsh In
its use of troops. Mr.. Plehve, the Minister
of the Interior, seems to be trying to justify
his nickname of the strong man of Russia
by exerting his strength in arbitrary mail
ner He is the more criticised because the pres
ent unhappy situation is largely the result OF a
provision in the law of his own devising, pro-
vision forbidding the asSemblage OF workmen
of different establishments, though in the most
peaceful and orderly manner and for entirely
peaceful purposes.
part of the present law. enacted at the in
stance of Mr.. de White. permits men to go ON
strike 1t also permits the men employed III
single establishment to assemble for the dis
cussion of issues in dispute between them and
their employers. 1t permits them to appoint
one Of their number as their representative,
called an "elder," who shall conduct their ne
gotiations with their employer. But another
l.
meeting for consultation or other purposes of
the workmen of different establishments. The
object of this prohibition is, of course patent
1t is to prevent "sympathetic' strikes and to
prevent the formation of any general labor or
ganization. whether industrial or political. 1t is
the violation of this part of the law that has
caused much of the trouble Wherever work
men of different establishments have been
found congregating, whether by chance or by
design the COssacks have charged upon them
or fired upon them, often with most tragic re-
suits.
Now a sympathetic strike is not a COM
mendable thing. 1t is generally a foolish and
an unjust thing. We may, therefore. sympathize
with The Russian Government in its desire to
discourage and to prevent such movements
But its means to that end are not effective. On
the contrary, they provoke more such strikes
than they prevent. If the men are permitted
to assemble peaceably for discussion of their
affairs, they might often decide not TO go on a
general strike. But just because they are for
hidden to meet, and are trampled or shot down
if they do meet they go on strike. 1t is the
law itself they are striking against. The case
is an illustration of the cross purposes at which
two of the chief ministers Of state are playing.
The Minister of Finance pursues a liberal and
the Minister of the Interior a repressive policy.
Both strongly depreCate the formation of
Social Democratic party. Mr., de Witte would
prevent 1t by opening the safety valve and let
ting of the superheated. steam. Mr.. Won Plehve
would screw down the valve and keep the
steam from escaping. The former policy has
been successful as far it has been applied.
The further the latter is applied, the more inef-
fectivc and disastrous it appears.