The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-12
A CHICAGO OPINION.
Leading Newspaper Comments On
Great Meat Strike.
(From the Chicago Tribune.

" 1UIIl the NulCdGO lT1Dune.)
The meat strike is ended and the
whole country is better off. The strik-
ers are better off, because they have
Withdrawn from what was evidently a
losing struggle and have transformed
themselves from idle into working
people. Instead Of consuming their
own savings and those Of others that
nave become producers, adding to
their own wealth and to the wealth of
the country. Their families no longer
dread the coming of a gaunt and hung
ry winter.
The city Of Chicago is better off, be-
cause the police which the strike as
sembled SO largely in the stock yards
may now be scattered to their proper
precincts, and may undertake to check
the'Wave of crime which is threa tening
the city.
The farmers are better off, because
those who raise live stock will get
better prices for their cattle, while
those who raise grain which feeds live
stock will get better prices for their
feed.
The meat eating public, which in
America includes nearly the whole
public, is better off, because the prices
the steaks will grow
There was some violence during the
strike, but the accounts of it have been
greatly exaggerated. AS those know
who have been personally familiar
with the stock yards conditions dur
ing the last eight and one-half weeks,
the great majority of strikers con-
Quoted themselves decently and peace
ably.
Inc crucial error in the conduct of
the strike was the breaking of the
agreement. This alienated public
sympathy to large degree, and with
out public sympathy strike of such
dimensions as the one just past can
never be won.
The men undoubtedly had grew
ances. Under the old system they
We're employed only three or four days
week, and the unskilled labor re-
ee1Ved in many instances under 81 a
week. Under present living conditions
IN eh1cago man cannot do decently
oy his family on such a wage. It is
not clear just where the fault lies for
this system Of ;intermitted employ
ment. At all events; the packers say
the error will be corrected,: and: that
the men they hire will. have steady
JOBS six days a week. This is proper.
Willie so many are working for in
ternat1onal peace, it. would be Well if
more were working for industrial
peace. A strike may be as great a
calamity as battle, and the public
sentiment should be educated to re-
'alize that strikes like wars should be
measures only of the last resort This
does not mean that working people
should not try to better their condi-
ton. That. of course, will be their
ceaseless and proper effort Nations
continually strive to strengthen their
international positions. But they no
longer resort to war, except for the
gravest and most fundamental reasons
and when all hope of settlement
through negotiations, arbitration, or
compromise has been exhausted The
cost of even victorious war is so great
as to destroy by anticipation many of
the strike. The men who get better
wages or better hours through strikes
rather than through negotiations, ar
b1trat1on, or compromise, lose in ad-
vance many of the benefits which
spring from their improved condition.
On the other hand, employers who
refuse to treat reasonably with their
men, and so bring about strike, lose
a great deal through even the strikes
they win