The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1904-07-29
The Strike.

ne StrlKe OF the employees or
the great packing establishments of
the country seems to be growing
more formidable every day. At
one time last week speedy settle
ment of the matters seemed assured
and all parties concerned were re-
joicing; but, from some misunder-
standing between the employers and
the employed, the trouble broke out
afresh and most of the union men
who had gone back to work, again
went out. Now the allied trades
nave called sympathy strike and
the teamsters, blacksmiths, plumb
ers, car workers, laborers and many
others have quit. 1t is estimated
that 2S,oo are out in Chicago
alone.
The trouble is spreading in all the
packing house cities and if not de-
clared off soon a hundred thousand
men will be idle. 1t is unfortunate
chat business affairs must be hamp-
cred and interfered with periodical
= ly by these strikes. The people
generally feel but little sympathy for
these great packing combines, and
grealize that they transgress the laws
I of their country and are oppressive
and dictatorial in their business
methods, but 1t seems there should
/ oe some other method devised by
which they might be curbed. Labor
makes the sacrifice IN the strike
method.
These big concerns may possibly
\ sbe compelled to close their doors
and suffer a great loss of business,
but that is matter of small signlfi-
canoe to them compared to the
shutting off of the necessities of life
/ from the great army of laborers and
their families.
There is also big strike on in
! the east. Thirty seven big cotton
mills in Massachusetts are shut down
aby the calling out of 10000 textile
operators.
In this case it is protest against
a reduction of IL Z per cent in wages,
The manufacturers contend that
conditions at present in their busi-
aness do not warrant the present
wages. The indications are that
there is an over supply of this goods
n the hands of the jobbers and
manufacturers and that shut down
" cut in prices is inevitable.
1t probably would have been
4 )etter for the employees to accept
deduction in wages than to be out
I If work entirely. There is food for
J hought in the fact that these great
strikes occur during campaign
Years.
The query naturally comes up if
/ they are not fermented and agitated
for political effect by scheming
| politicians. Does one political
party or the other hope to gain an
advantage In the coming election by
,gitating labor troubles2 Are the
great trusts trying to excite the labor
element to revolt against the Re-
Jubllcan party in return for the
Effort the Roosevelt administration
S making to curb them, or do labor
organizations see during great polltl-
cal contests golden opportunity to
enforce demands that will be the
more readily conceded when each
political party is out after votes and
each is the more ready to make
concessions because of the ap-
preaching election.
Be the cause what it may these
labor troubles seem to be intensified |
md more agrevating during political
campaigns. Some means of con-
rolling them must be devised sooner
)r later. The innocent public
should not be made to suffer such |
great inconvenience and expense |
because of these frequent clashes
between the employer and the en-
ployed.
The uncertainties and uneasiness |
about the results of our great ma
tional elections cause enough |
,rouble and confusion in business |
matters without the added hindrance
of great strikes.