Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-04

ment, says the Minneapolis Times.
The long fight and the large number
of men engaged in it dwarfed the orig
inal cause of the trouble. The team
sters selected as an excuse for
strike the troubles of II garment
workers, who had been out many
weeks, and who have long since aban-
doned their strike.
Now that the strike is ended, the
bill receipted and paid, it may be ex.
amined with reference to obtaining
an idea of the cost of the three
months of business paralysis, slug
ging and bossism. It is not officially
exact as to some of the items, which
must of course be estimated. but in
dollars and cents the effort to Sc
cure the reinstatement of Il garment
workers cost about $9,O0O,O00. The
city and county are out $406,500 for
extra police protection and some DAM
age suits for loss of property and life
are sure to follow. The unions paid
out $350,00O instrille benefits and the
strikers lost 100000 in wages. The
employers in conducting the fight paid
out $2,0O0,000, and experts estimate
the shrinkage in trade, freight bust
ness, in and out, at $6,000,000.
But this is only part of the cost.
| In this statement there is nothing that
shows the amount of human suffering,
of starvation and of the efforts of
honest workingmen to find positions
away from Chicago. Nothing of saw
ings used during the period of enforc-
ed idleness. Nothing of the sufferings
of strong men, loyal to their unions,
forcd to see dear ones want for ev-
en- necessities.
But there is another story. Tween
ty-one men were killed and Ais were
injured. many of them being manned
| for life. This is the worst feature
of the strike.
Four thousand six hundred and
twenty men walked out or were lock-
ed out, for the employers forced the
fighting, declining to be whipped in
to line one after the other, but stood
united and by so doing won the fight
There are places waiting for 2,O75
men; and this means that 1000 strik-
ers will not be able to obtain the
positions they voluntarily abandoned.
Many have sought employment In
lines that are less turbulent-for the
teamsters have ever been elements
of trouble in the Chicago labor situa-
ton. The strike started In the rush
season and ended during the period
of summer dizziness.
That the labor unions have learned
an expensive lesson is quite probable,
although he would be daring indeed
who would assert that Chicago will
not have another strike on her hands
before the end of the current year.
Labor unions have unQuestionably
learned that the rank and file will
not stand for sympathetic strikes.
The defeat will mark the passing OF
the union button in certain lines OF
business, although the union men who
are forced to forego it will unQues-
tionably endeavor to show some mark
of Identification by which the union
transfers may be recognized, for in
reference and smuggling.
Disclosures of graft and bribery
have opened the eyes of the rank and
file.
If the defeat has taught the union
men to be jealous of their great pow
err; if it has been effective in teach
ing them not to use it. nor permit it
to be used, recklessly. then some good
has come from the disaster.
have won the right to employ whom
they will, and to a free use of the
sterets of the city. They have acted
manfully and have made fight
against repetition of strikes, that
may secure them peace for some time
to come
At the beginning of the contest the
employers offered compromise meas
ures, which were rejected; and then
employers stood out for unconditional
surrender
The teamsters of Chicago have been
used to debating. not to being die.
tated to- The leaders have certainly
been taught that one man will not
be permitted to longer dictate to I'M
ion labor.
The strikers have gained nothing;
they have lost their commanding po-
sition in the labor world; their unions
have lost strength. and the lessons
: of experienced and bitter defeat are
the only returns of the three months
struggle.