The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-09-10
sYMP athletic STRIKES.

The attitude of the Press towards
labor has always been friendly, and
1t still believes in promoting the
best interests Of the man who earns a
living by the sweat of hls brow. We
believe that the interests Of both
employer aud employed are enhanced
BY a friendship between the two
which springs from feeling that the
laborer 10 worth his hire. But the
Press does not believe that sympa-
thetic strikes are advisable, or ao-
coDplish any good for the lab0ring
man, as rule. Take the strike of
the meu formerly employed by the
Occur d'Alene Lumber company as
an illustration. When they went out,
the Press, and most Of the people
we're anxious to see the differences
between them and the company ami
eably adjusted This wish has not
been realized aud the strike Is, so
far as 1t can benefit the men who
went out, a thing OF the past. The
mill is running with a full crew aud
the whole town is benefited by the
payroll that Is thus created. There
is that Unborn trait in human nature
which makes self preservation its first
law, or in other words, the individual
looks to his own interests first. This
will apply to the wOIkmen In Mis-
soula and Butter who are asked to 20
out on a sympathetic strike, as we'll
as to the people Of this city, who are
interested in seeing the mill continue
to run. II is asking a great sacrifice
TO request large number OF strangers
to give up positions with which they
are perfectly satisfied, aud which they
may never be able to secure again,
for the sake Of helping men they
never met. 1t is serious matter and
one carrying grave responsi bility,
one which should not be lightly cuu-
sidersd, because II involves the feed.
ing and clothing Of a family in many
Instances aud possible privatiou, for
the purpose Of helping fellow work
meu who may be strangers. IL the mat
ter Involved the interests Of a large
number Of strikers, there might be
more reason for a sympathetic strike,
although IL Is wrong in principle aud
usually results To much more damage
to labor than good, TO matter how.
many persons are Involved In this
case, however, there are not to exceed
Fifteen or twenty men who would re-
turn % work for the Occur d'Alene
Lumher company nndsr any circum-
stances, auu the manager has express
eo Willingness 10 take most OF these
back at the oil wages, 30 that In
reality net more than i've or ak men
are affected. 70 throw several hun
dred men eat Of work In Montana
with winter approaching, when there
Is comparatively so little At stake. Is
wrong and not justified by the ex.
igenc5 Of the case, aud every labgriug
man ia Occur dfAIans will agree with
u, whether be admits It or not.
Down in your heart Of hearts you all
know that this Is right. and that o il
wrong to ask 20 many others 10 give
UP thair means + living uhau 90
little is at stake You made a good.
aad clean alHs for the principle III
which ygu believed, and have the re
spect and syn pathy Of this community
for the orderly manner In which you
conducted the strike. You made an
honorable fight aud lost. Nov let the
matter rest aud do not forfeit the
sympathy Of the people by continuing
a controversy that can not help mat
ters. We hope the leaders OF the
union will take the right view Of this
matter and settle it 10 some way.
We haye carefully sized up the situa-
tion and believe it il to your interest, !
as we'll as that Of this whole com
munity, that this matter be dropped
and further uncertainty removed;
that business and improvements may
go ahead aud all find work that Is .
more reHiunerative aud lezz laborious
than that ia a mill