New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-29
THE STRIKE CLOUD.

In spite Of the apparent imminence Of CO.
lossal railway strike in the West it is hard
to believe that the issue will come to the pro-
posed climax. At the present Junctlre there are
so many excellent reasons initiating against
the threatened resort TO a strike, with its al
most inevitable accompaniment Of violence that
not a few influential men among the railway
employees and in other labor organizations will
certainly exert themselves TO prevent an out
break Of hostilitles.
Even from the point of view Of the en-
ployes the attitude of the railway managers
is by no means hostile. Not only have they
offered an average increase of S1s per cent in
wages and a ten-hOur day, but they have ex-
pressed their willingness to submit their case
TO arbitration. Plainly, then, the prospective
strikers cannot urge the plea so often used that
they are going TO strike for principle. The
only principle they could possibly pretend TO be
maintaining In the present case is that OF their
own infalibility, and its consequence, no COM
promise Inasmuch as the employees demand
only a u per cent increase in pay and nine
hour day, and as they have the chance Of get
ting by arbitration, something better than what
IS already freely offered by the companies. the
threat Of a strike looks too much like mold
up" The more intelligent unions, among which
most of the railway employees organizations
must be reckoned have largely succeeded IN
emancpating themselves from the USSIuSAFS
influence OF bad advisers and leaders. We may
fairly suppose, therefore, that the prevalent
state Of feeling among these Western railroad
fnen is an outgrowth Of the widespread frenzy
which is nowadays stirring reckless counsellors
TO foolish speech and state legislatures TO radi-
cal action against railway corporations. SO
many are on the warpath just now that the
railway employees themselves seem at last to
have caught the madness
We do not deny the justice Of many COM
plants brought by both travellers and employees
against the railways. But the no compromise"
spirit cannot be too sharply censured. When
the fight is for principle stiff neck is always
parlonable and often praiseworthy. but when
nothing more than a straightforward business
Arrangement is at issue it is both wise and
profitable to relax the muscles a uihe. 1t IS
needless to review the stupendous evils that
q great strike must bring about; neither the
general public nor the wOuld-be strikers are
unfamiliar with them, and there is substantial
reason, therefore, to hope that the strike will
never be declared, or. If declared will speedily
be settled.
It has been the boast Of the best union lead
ers that they do not enter upon strike with
out considering It's effects. not only upon tho
strikers, but also upon the public. If this boast
be lived UP TO at the present crisis, strike
Will be a sheer lmpOssibility. Apart from the
immediate traffic disturbances 1t would cause,
il would almost certainly be a weight which,
thrown into the pan along with wild legislative
restrictions, might come perilOusly near to tip
ping the scales OF prosperity. The hour is most
unpropitiOus.