The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-09
4 LESSON ron UNIONIsM.


and need nosoutside aid. The " On h that
this Ia what Is called putting up font. .
IL Ia quite impossible 70 believe that any
body Of men can be 10 utterly blind 20 the
facts Of a situation. Unless life IL put into
the conflict by an extension Of the strike
ia definite termination Is now only matter
Of days.
Several times during the past week there
has seemed 10 be serious danger that the
strike would spread. Organizations allied
to the teamsters, or affected by the condi-
lions Of the struggle, have become restless
and have shown a disposition 10 support
the teamsters by leaving their own work.
on'Thursday and Friday there were active
rumors that the street car men would tie
up the traction lines because the coal sup
Piled to the power houses came from a
presumably boyootted concern. Strike
leaders demanded that the traction COM
pany void It's contract with the Peabody
Coal Company and purchase It's fuel from
concerns having the approval Of the stri-
kers. The company needed the quality Of
coal which 1t obtained from the contractors,
and was assured that its supply would be
continued although deliveries could only be
made under police protection. The company
decided 10 stand by the contractors.
The movement was practically a blum,
although some Of the employee OF the car
lines were undoubtedly disposed 10 60 out.
Moreover, an important difference appeared
In the ranks Of unionlsm. Mr.. W. d. Mahon,
the president Of the International Amalga-
nation Of Street and Elevated Railway
Employees. was in the city, and had the
wisdom 10 set his face and his authority
sternly against the movement which the
Teamsters' Union sought 10 preoipitate.
He stated that the railway men were on
good terms with their employers, had no
grievance against them, and declared that
there was no warrant for q sympathetic
strike.
Unionism would stand in much better
cas- with the public II a similar wisdom
were displayed on all occasions. The par
tioipation Of the street car men would have
been utter folly. The public, still further
disturbed in its daily processes, would have
become still further incensed with the whole
proceeding, and the position taken by Mr..
Mahon unquestionably averted a blow
which would have been disastrous TO union
ism. A few allied organizations, though
represented by a comparatively limited
Joined the strikers. But their influence
was Of little importance,
Although on Saturday Mr.. Charles
Dold, the president Of the local branch Of
the Federation Of Labor, laughed at the
assertion Of the Employer Association
that victory perched on its banners, he de-
clAred that no general strike would be
ordered, He said that a general strike at
this time would be playing right into the
hands Of the employers 1t certainly
would. There is no doubt that the employ
es were rather disposed TO welcome such
q move. They were ready for il. and we're
prepared TO treat It Ia q way that would
leave a lasting impression on labor bodies
and their leaders. They we're prepared
to show that the laws Of society we're still
In operation and that they we're really
stronger than the opinions Of misguided
men. Whether the decision OF the labor
leaders was due TO a realization Of weak
ness. or to a recognition Of the falsity Of
their position, or to a recognition Of the
strength and the Hghtness Of their OPP
ponents, their decision was wise, and II
was particularly fortunate for the interests
OF organized labor.
A fact Of importance appears in the les
sening Of violence as the possibility Of the
appearance Of the State troops turned into
a probability. On Thursday a committee
Of twelve Of Chicago's leading business
men went to Springfield to lay before Gov
ernor Deneen their request for military as
well a. police protection, although the situa-
ton did not properly call for State inter-
vention. A moro vigorous attitude on the
part Of the Mayor would have made any
such action entirely superhuous. The dis
turbance and riotlng could and should have
been stopped by the local police, reinforced
a. 1t was by several hundred special on
GERS. Crowds assembled In the oenters OF
special disturbance, and no effort was made
TO disperse them. Other crowds followed
the guarded wagons, and were not scattered.
The call for State aid seemed little else than
the expression OF a lack Of confidence in the
Mayor
On Thursday the Sheriff Of the county
acted over tho head Of the Mayor, and took
charge Of the situation. By normal process
this would not have been done except by
request Of a Mayor who felt that matters
had gone beyond municipal control. The
step had it, effect. IL was made more
effective by the statement Of the Sheriff
that II his men, In conjunction with the
police, could not control the situation, the
troops would be called for. The Governor
said that II the Sheriff called for troops he
would send them. This was so evidently
meant that a change in the situation was
apparent Immediately. Had the Mayor
in the beginning shown the determined
purpose manifested by the Sheriff when he
came actively into the matter, fewer missiles
would have been thrown and the casualty
lists would have been very greatly cur
tailed.
There Is now no reason 10 think that the
strike will be extended. II II IL not, IL will
subside and Chicago viii soon return 10 her
normal life, 10 walt until the process il re-
peated at some later time. Some day Chi
cAgo will fight this same issue TO a finish
and organized society, battling against
folly and lawle8sness, will win In that larger
conflict a. II has In the present disturbance.
II labor leaders are wise they will heed the
lessons Of the Teamsters Union strike.
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