The Detroit times., 1912-02-22
D. dine ruhIic Concernedt

To the Editor OF The Times: The
superficial manner in which certain
newspapers deal with the present labor
situation is eNemplitied in their atti-
tude toward the strike now In progress
in Lawrence. Mass, and especially is
their Illogical ana irrational position
shown ia their comments on the recent
ultimatum delivered by the Lawrence
strikers. This ultimatum Is as fol-,
lows;
Unless the mill-owners meet the
terms OF the strikers we viii cripple
the entire city. The time Tor arbltra
ton is past. The mill-owners must
concede all the demands OF the strikers
or else we shall paralyZe all business
in Lawrence. The railroads VIII be tied
up so that no freight can De Drougnt
INTO the city We will also prevent
any work and the entire city Will be
plunged into darkness
After declaring that the conflict now
roin. on In Lawrence is one Whlch IN
a "disputc' which belongs entirely TO
the mill owners and their employees,
certain newspaper In Detrolt pro-
mounds the following suppositlon;
in Lawrence in pursuance OF their con-
test for what they consider t nele
rights in this dispute should ahnounes
10 the city that II the employees dlu NJ,
forthwith abandon their sttuEsIc .na
return 10 work on the oid terms tiV
employers would compel railroad mar
ayers to suspend operations OF az
trains that they would combine win
all other employers 10 nave az oe ~ y
Industrial establishments closed, etc.
This "supposition" Is not supposable
for the reason that IL involves course
az action which would be disAstrou9
70 the interests of the employers theiu-
selves The capitalist class may be
depended upor never TO ipaugurate
measures which lessen prohts. Ihey
are not Obliged 20 resort 10 such meas
,fres they are able 10 control the STU
alton without in any way Jeoparui%ihe
their own interests
In dealing with the present conner
between capital and labor ono odt I
never TO lose sight OF the TACT thAt
81 represents an unequal STRUGGLE t!tat
advantage Is oil on the side OF the
former while the latter has only one
weapon with which 10 defend itselt.
weapon which. while Its use brings IN
creased suffering TO the laborers. mast
be welded for the sake OF the com
mon good OF their class.
EMPLOYERS, as owners or all inc
means OF production. as controllers OF
the courts and manipulators or the
legislative machinery, are able. unoer
all circumstances TO dictate terms 10
the workers. terms which the latter
have no alternative but 10 accept OF
starve. Thus IL Will be seen That TINS
conflict between the mIll-owners ana
their employees which is now being
waged In Lawrence, Mass, Is not sins
ply a dispute between two equally
equipped contestants and with which
the public has no concern.
RTE -furt witt M oiJsrrvcd- tina tia soF--
ers i'm mills. mines and factories have
not the right or free contract. As they
have. no alternative but To accept the
terms OF their employers. they are
in reality reduced TO the position or
slaves.
Las, year the Massachusetts, legls-
lature passed a law that 81 hours IN
stead OF So hours should constitute
weeks work whereupon tic mir
owners Immediately responded with
REDUCTION in wages corresponding 20
the reduction in time As the employees
had previously received ~ wage sufti-
Gent 0nty II rrraIrrtttlf4 u fe,-thnH- MeEe-
10 use the only weapon at
their command, an5 10 strike. In this
way they could ut least demonstrate
their power arr. compel n recognition
OF their importance In the production
OF wealth.
In these later times laborers are be-