Amador ledger., 1907-05-10
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
SAN FRANCISCO'S.
INDUSTRIAL UPHEAYAL.


labor revolt that is apt to be more
damaging to the welfare of the city
than the earthquake aud fire of last
year. Some 10000 toiIers belonging
to the labor unions of different call
ings are out on strike. The entire
street car systems are tied up; the
telephone system is also crippled by a
waIk-out of the "hello" girls, the
still because of a shutdown by the
employers in anticipation of strike
for shorter hours and more pay. The
street car men voted to strike Satur-
day night, because the United Rail-
roads refused TO accede to the, de-
mands of the sempIoyes for eight
hours aud hat rate of.three. dollars
per day. This strike coming on the
heels of an arbitration Of the points
in issue between the company and
its employees, which resulted in giving
the men material increase in pay,
and substantial sum for back wages,
was Interpreted by the officials of the
company that it was impossible to
keep step to the demands of the men
and at the same time do justice to
the stockholders. President Calhoun
was flat-footed in declaring that the
limit of concession had been reached; !;
that If the men went out . it would
mean a permanent break with, the
union. They struck, however,, de-
pending upon the strength of pun
bers, and the Intolerance of unionism
which has held San Francisco in its
grip'for many, years, to win the fight.
1t was not struggle for just wage.
That question had already :. been
passed upon by the arbitration board
composed of high-m1nded men. The
outcome serves to prove how arbitrary
and intolerant this labor organization
had become, as the result of repeated
raises in pay consequent upon strikes,
or arbitration to avoid a strike. Cal
houn realized that 1T was useless to
try to satisfy the men. There was no
stopping place for their demands.
other than the complete surrender of
the vast railroad system into their
hands. He therefore heroicaIIy con-
cluded that the issue must be square,
ly drawn whether the company whose
money was invested ID the enterprise,
or the carmen in its employ, should
manage the property. Like any busi-
ness man, he claimed the right to
control his owD affairs, and he re-
solved to do so at all hazards. Amid
all the turmoil and bloodshed of this
unfortunate strife, there in one char
acter that rises out of the struggle far
ABOVE the average-nameIy Calhoun.
He stands out firm and undaunted
as the advocate of property rights,
and for a return to the reign of law
and order, as opposed to mob, yio-
Ience. He knew the path he thus
choose to take was strewn with
danger and difficulties that might
we'll appaI the ordinary man. His
course meant loss of business tor a
time, destruction of property, and
probably violence at the hands of an
incensed mob of strikers and their
more frenzied sympathizers. But he
deemed it the path of duty, the path
OF ultimate peace and safety, and
therefore he unhesitatingly deter
mined to walk therein. ar :
In striking contrast to his acttup. is
the conduct -otc the carmen at their
meeting Saturday night to vote ION
the question of strike or mo strike.
There was evidently aIarge, if not
clear majority, of the members against
a walk-out. They wanted secret
ballot to decide the issue. But the
hre-eaters, the hot heads of the
organization, would have the matter
settled by standing vote, and the
bulk of those opposed to strikin g
were afraid to show their colors.
They went with the, crowd, and
actually voted to do the thing, they
did not want done. Such is the
craven spirit generated by intoler-
ance and union despotism.
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