The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-05-11
CHAPTER XXXII.

The strike at the Confederate Ma
chine Companies had been blazoned on
the front page Of every newspaper the
moment 1t was announced. Special
reporters were assigned to interview
employers and employed, and every
word they vouchsafed was elaborately
reported for fully three days. When
the story netted two columns, 1t even
earned editorial notice in most of the
great dailies. This advised the strik-
ers to maintain order, and assured
them that violence would ALLEVIATE the
sympathy of the public. The situation
was described as involving another
move on the great chess-board of busi-
ness" There were also references to
the iron law of supply and demand"
and 1.-The great partnership of labor and
capitap'- phrases at once familiar and
comprehensive, If not conclusive. The
advice was apparently needed, for no
violence Of any Kind was attempted.
But the news Immediately dwindled
from two columns to half column,
from half column to paragraph,
from paragraph to a ''trade-note."
The editorial comment ceased long
before this disappearing point was
reached. The pawns on the great
chess-board were left to move or be
taken unnoticed. Public interest in
the game died when it failed to fur
nish sensation.
But II public interest in the Confed.
Grated strike soon died out, private in
terest in it remained undiminished.
Day after day the men congregated on
The railroad embankments above Ken
nard's factory (now Confederated
Companies shops Nos. Is and l6), and
stood about in groups or sat upon the
grass watching the buildings below
them. There was not much to see.
Not a fire was lighted, not window
was open. The few watchmen pa
trolling the shops furnished the only
evidences of life. No one tried to per-
suade the workers to return, no COM
munication whatsoever came to them
from their employers. 1t was a strike
turned into a locIout--a somewhat
wear!some move in the great game,
because there are only three moves
for the pawns. two of which are gen.
orally impossible. They can find work
elsewhere, remain idle, or accept what
is offered them. But they must not
prevent outsiders from taking their
places by means, direct or indirect
That is against the rules of the game
II is merely question of demand and
supply, but there must be no artificial
regulation Of the supply. The demand
may, of course. be increased or d.
minished by crushing out competition
or by closing down this shop and
opening that one; but to govern the
supply in any such way is plainly illc.
gal (say the injunctions) and as lone
as It is Illegal It must not be done
But the question is, how long can the
game continue under these rules
Surely, not very long.
AS the days wore on, the loiterers on
the railroad embankment grew more
restless. They were joined by many
locked-out workers from the city, foI
headquarters had been established al
Kennard's to avoid the influences ant
temptations of the town. To the head
quarters came all the idle riff-raff thai
sympathizes with any movement prom,
:sing disorder. The leaders soon hat
all they could attend to. A village de.
pendent upon q daily wage cannot livt
very long on credit. II the butcher
and baker are willing to wait, thu
packing companies and the -four com
panies are not, and halt must bt
called sooner or later. Want sooI