Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
The Chicago Strike.

All indications from Chicago point to the
settlement OF the teamsters strike In that
city. 1t has continued for many weeks ana
according to one estimate has cost approx
imately 81. 900. 900 in business losses. wages
lost to the men, the cost of employing out
side workers and the shrinkage of receipts
In various lines affected indirectly by the
upsetting of the transportation facilities
Fully five hundred people have been wound
ed and ten lives have been sacrificed in the
course of the roting.
This strike was sympathetic demonstra-
ton by the teamsters OF Chicago in behalf
of certain striking clothing workers. The
men had no grievances of their own and
consequently the peace terms which have
been tentatively agreed upon promise them
nothing more than chance to be rein
stated If they have not placed themselves
beyond the pale of recognition by violent
acts during the strike. Wages, hours and
general conditions of labor are to remain as
before. and the employers are to reserve
the right to engage non-union teamsters as
they please.
So If these terms are accepted and the
strike is ended on that basis. here will
stand significant example of the folly Of
sympathetic walk-outs 1t is the almost
they have failed. They are the most costly,
for they spread far beyond the lines of the
strike for cause. They more completely
paralyze a city's activities, and they destroy
the confidence of the citizen in his ability
to conduct his business unmolested They
are therefore the more determinedly resist
ed by employers.
The worst feature of this Chicago strike
has been the inability of the city govern
ment to preserve order. For a time the
strikers and their supporters held the police
at bay. assaulted non-union drivers without
molestation. and ran things to suit them
selves. Then Chicago heard the chorus of
severe condemnation raised throughout the
country and a tardy attempt was made to
suppress the more violent phases of the
strike 1t was not, however, until President
Roosevelt reached the city and gave his
emphatic reply to the representatives of the
strikers that the situation assumed truly
pacific aspect. His words to the delegation
that waited him to protest against a
possible use of the federal forces were vital
with a significance that the strikers were
quick to understand:
Back of the city stands the state, and
back of the state stands the nation"
In those few words did the President
processes. for the progression of authority
along the established lines. They served
as a reminder to the city officials that the
responsibility rested squarely on them in
the first instance. but that the case was not
hopeless II they failed to do their duty.
And on their part the strikers realized the
important truth that. however they might
overawe the city administration in conse-
quence OF the political power of the labor
unions. they could not hope to overwhelm
the state and still less could they expect to
affect the national administration.
VIII Chicago learn the lesson taught by
this deplorable affair, with its heavy loss
OF life and property? 1t has had many OPP
portunities in the past to profit by similar
demonstrations and seems to be just as
weak in the face of attack each time a
strike of large proportions occurs.