Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-24
THE QUESTION OF STRIkEs.-.I
Ono Of the D.y's Best Cartoons.
~ FREDERIC !. HAsISIN.

WASHINGTON, u. c.. August 23.-In
this month of August. 1915. with ma :
tional prosperity running high. with
the civilized world in an unprecedent-
ed state of excitement and turmoil.
inc United States il being sweut by
an epidemic OF strikes. The threat
ened railroad strike, which, has brought
us 10 the brink Of calamity which
experts sssure us would he equivalent
10 hrst-class war. has engulfed pub
iic attention TO the exclusion OF all
other strikeR. actual or threatened. hut
moments thought shows that the
railroad dispute is only one OF many.
We have had, all in few months
not only quarreIs between railroad
capital and labor. but strikes OF gar
inent workers. Of traction employees
or miners. OF milkmen. of hox-maktrs.
ana strikes in dozen other indus
tries, each OF thep affecting more or
less directly but vitality the national
prosperity.
An epidemic Of strike. is no new
thing. The country has seen as many
as $500 strikes in single year
about ten day. Most people have
come 10 regard the strike menace as
something like the poor whom we al
WAYS have with us--a condition regret
table. but unaVoida BILE. which must be
endured because it can't be cured. This
public attitude Is one or the worst
features or the problem. for the ques-
ton OF strikes is not a static condi-
ton. but "A living movement that Is
changing and progressing from point
to point, for better or for worse. This
movement has got 10 be controlled and
directed by nation wide pressure Of
public opinion.
In the past. our custom has been to
take great interest in the problem
as long as some big strike hurts our
IL l., la I'll -
was settled. We would forget all about
strikes. AS result. strike to-da v
can still bring us TO the edge OF ma
tional calamity.
Another mistaken viewpoint is that
which would regard organized la Dor
and the public as two different and
often antagonistic parties. Organized
labor is part Of the public. lts rank.
are over $500. 600 strong-not far from
10 per cent OF The nation. when you
include its dependents In most strikes
il is not only theoretically. but ac-
As the third party concerned-the gen
eral public" When the railroad men
strike. mtlkinen and motormen and
miners pay the price. whether the
strike succeeds or fails. when the
milkmen strike. the engineers baby
goes without milk. In other words.
when the strike question is regarded
as whole. the interest OF even the
most ardent unionift is identical with
the public interest.
Public Demends Settlement.
And the public interest. the interest
of all OF us, is TO secure a means by
which Industrial disputes may be set
tied without Industrial war. The an
nlogy between strikes and warfare has
often been drawn, and il has been
ella aimed that al a last resort. both are
inevitable. Whatever may be true OF
war this IL certainly not true OF
strikes II war is inevitable, It is
inevitable because there is no existing
power to which a nation OF the hrst
class feels that it should bow. In the
event OF deadlock between two such
nations. the only resort is the sword.
But in the event OF a deadlock be-
tween two parties within nalion.
there is power above them both TO
which they can with all dignity sub
mit--the power Of the nation as a
whole. The individual submits TO this
continually in actual practice. quite
irrespective of what he may regard as
the Justice OF it's decision. II YOU lose
a lawsuit where you consider You have
all the right on your side. you do not
declare vendetta against your OPP
ponent and the Judge You swallow
the injustice because for the good OF
society it is necessary TO abide by de-
csions. or course. you cannot help
yourself: put you VIII w pulte feduS
10 admit i'm theory that this is the
only system on which society can be
run.
The question to-day is whether or
ganized labor and organized capital
have reached the position OF the pri-
vate citizen who abides by a court de-
cisi0n whether he likes it or not.
Sooner or later labor and capital will
reach that position, and We will have
peaceful settlement Of industrial dis
putes. 1t is important to note, how
ever. that the individual continues TO
put ND with court decisions. in the long
run, because his rights are conceded,
in theory, TO an extent that fully salts
hes his sense of justice.
Bnsed on sound Theory.
He may not like the decision. but he
has got TO admit the perfection Of tho
theory on which the decision is based
that all men are equal before the
law. II the decision were based on the
idsA that some men are better than
others. the injured party you'd either
leave the country whore such theories
obtained, or else eventually he would
get together with large number Of
other injured parties and proceed to
reconstruct the Constitution will,
an AK.
In other words. when a man Great es
disturbance in order To make society
admit his inaiienable rights. he Is fight
ing in . coed cause. On the other
hand, when those rights have been ad.
mitted. and he injure. society as q
whole by hFhtinE bscausf he does not
Ill