The Topeka state journal., 1905-05-08
THE CHTCAGO STRIKE.

cago grew out Of a very small begin
ming. At the outset very little was in
volved, but the struggle has grown
wider and wider until it embarrasses the
business of more than a million peo-
PIE and may cause widespread suffer-
ing among those who have no interest
in it whatever.
To an outsider there appears to be
unwise leadership and a desire to die
tate on one side, and greed and a de-
sire to crush the life out of organized
labor on the other. The leaders of the
labor unions wish to extend their pow
er so that they can dictate the business
Of Chicago. although they may have
no financial interest in it, and in their
eagerness to do so they have picked a
quarrel which might easily have been
avoided. The employers, on the other
hand, are determined to relieve them
selves if possible of what they regard
as the monopoly and the monarchy of
the labor which has dictated to them
for years, often times in the most ar
bitrary manner, Obstructing the regular
operation Of business They believe
this the opportune time for action and
for taking a determined stand.
And a million and a half of people
VINO nave no interest WnaGGNGE LEl6
quarrel must suffer-as usual.
It is called the teamsters' strike, al
though the teamsters had nothing to
do with it in the beginning. 1t all
began because the big mail order
house of Montgomery Ward & Co. had
trouble with nineteen garment max
ers. Kansas commercial interests will
have little sympathy with Montgom-
cry Ward & Co, for that firm takes
more money out of the state that
should GO to the country and town
merchant than any other. The fact
that its owners have built up tremend-
Gus fortunes indicates that 1t has done
a tremendous business This firm,
too. has the reputation of being ex-
tremely dictatoriaI with it's employees.
The nineteen garment workers were
losing their strike with Ward & Co.,
and the leaders of the teamsters' union
ordered a sympathetic strike to
help them. Ward & Co, employed a
large number of teamsters and this
seemed the most vulnerable. point to
attack the firm. At one time the diff
ficulty could have been patched up,
but Ward & Co. refused to take back
some of the strikers and the leaders
of the teamsters refused to end the
strike unless all should be taken back
mediately.
To coerce Ward & Co. strikes were
ordered on those firms which delivered
goods to the mail order house. The
employers determined to crush the
power of the teamsters' union. the
teamsters accepted the challenge, and
a general strike was ordered.
There has thus far been little actual
suffering as the result of the strike. but
it is quite probable that there win be.
Once before Chicago suffered because
teamsters would not allow milk, ice,
coal. and other necessaries to be haul
ed, and the lack OF milk caused actual
deaths among innocent babies and in
valids.
The employers have unlimited capital
back Of them to aid in crushing the
prevailing spirit of the union, while
the striking men will be supported and
| aided by other labor organizations all
| ever the country.
It is the innocent public that must
suffer-the sick and the helpless among
I them-this is the injustice of it all
/ What is the remedy? II it exists, It
| has not been applied. Is it compulsory
arbitration. or something else? It is a
grave state of affairs: this bitter strife
/ in Chicago between organized capftal
and organized labor. Neither can deny
4 the right of the other to organize. but
/ both must admit the right of the pub
lie to protect itself against the actions
OF either, or both, which cause the in
nocent to suffer.
Meanwhile, without relying upon ad-
/ justments by legal expedients, of these
constant and recurring industrial con-
ficts between the two elements Of in
/ dustry. it is well for both employer and
employe the country over to be more
l charitable and generous, one to the 9th
er, in their respective relations. and
/ recognize that both manual power and
financial strength have rights that
[ must be recognized and realized by
both, that both may serve the public
best and for the welfare Of all three.