Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-26
A STRIKE WITHOUT A LEADER

The telegraphers' strike, which is caus-
ing so much comment, Is strike without
a leader. The leaders thought they had
settled the matter at issue. They neither
expected or favored the strike. They op-
posed and forbade it. But nevertheless
1t broke out" at Los Angeles, here,
there, everywhere. The leaders lost lead
ership OF the strike and the strike lost
it's headquarters, temporarily at least. 1t
is a movement, and it moves, not without
leaders indeed, yet not because of any one
or two or any few of them. 1t could not
have been brought about without some
national leadership that led up to it to be
sure. 1t would not have been so wide
spread or so strong without acknowledged
local leaders. Nothing could have been
done without some organization, of course,
But the strike shows labor to have
movement larger than its leadership. and
so widespread as to be at times beyond
any central control. 1t also shows the
employees to be far more organizable than
highly organized Long before they are
capable of organizing into unified, dis
ciplined body they can and they do move
together in wonderfully concerted action
This is not to say that they all want to
strike, and all think it the wisest method
or moment to accomplish their end. 1t
does not deny that many entered into the
strike as reluctantly as their national
leaders or that some may, have even been
coerced to Join the strikers. But on the
face of the situation these facts are
clearly apparent: That the strike would
not be possible If there were not very
general discomfort with the conditions OF
employment; that united action is de-
pended upon to improve these conditions;
that despite their extraordinary difficult
ties they have united, and that however
undisciplined and weak their organiza-
ton may prove to be, this least organ
liable trade proves to be surprisingly or
ganizable.
| The telegraphers' strike means much
more than appears on the surface. And
the telegraphers are taking any one be-
low the surface who cares enough to
know how they feel and why they act as
they do to try to put himself in their
place. No one can thus catch any glimpse
Of the situation from the inside without
being much surprised that the telegraph
ers are so capable of concerted action.
For they have not been known to be well
or widely or long organized. They have
not been closely Identified with the trade
union organization. They have never
taken prominent or active part either in
local central bodies, state federations of
labor or in the American Federation of
Labor. They moreover are not made up
of the kind of people who have hitherto
formed the old and strong labor unions.
The best unionists have been skilled arti-
sans, permanently identified with their
trades. The telegraphers indeed are
skilled and specialized, but they are
neither artisans nor permanently identi-
fed with their craft The duties of most
of them are largely clerical, and the clerks
have never proved to be as organizab BILE
as other employees. More telegraphers
than other skilled craftsmen learn and
follow the art of 1.-The keys" as tempo
rary occupation. To all but few of them
telegraphy Is more of job than call
ing, and while they are in touch with