New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-01
The Apathy of BayOnne

The third fact is the most important.
Each time when the strike was settled
the people Of Bayonne forgot their tort
NIGHT Of fear and relapsed into an apathy
concerning local affairs which seems to
have characterized their entire industrial
history. Here had been two social earth-
cuakes which ought to have wrecked the
vsrv foundations of popular and official
Indifference. Yet the people Of BSyOnne---
citizens. officials and industrial heads, alike
have done and are doing nothing on an
adequate scale toward a real remedy. Inc
majority of the citizenship, even to-day, Is
unwilling to concede to the strikes more
than temporary significance.
result of this attitude, Bayonne re-
mains in the "strike zone" 1t STANDS To-
day as near disorder as ever IN It's history
Tbs same conditions, which made two Dig
strikes not only possible but inevitable, are
sill in evidence. They are working uhoet
the surface in the same way as before, and
xorkinp with increased power. This new
power springs from the belief hrmly liAeu
IN every alien mind in the city that violence
ia sure way of getting an increase IN
wages At the very time that the best
tbourht of the nation is being applied TO
neaeeful means for settling industrial DIS
putes. Bayonne, by its indifference ana
neglect, is fostering fostering seems d
better word) in the minds Of thousands OF
aliens the conviction that lawlessness Is the
key to progress for the worker.
For it must be borne in mind that each
time the workers went back to their tasks
thew went understanding that their de-
nands would be favorably acted on. And
each time this understanding was tulhiled'
The first time they had asked an increase
IN wages and the eight-hour day. They got
the increase two days after they returned
to work. The eight-hour day was an
poupced barely a month later. Last Octo-
Der the men went back saying they nau
been promised higher wages. Inc next
morning the Standard Oil Company at
whose plant both strikes started, puDiSheu
q statement denying there was any 1oun-
dation for such an understanding
month later, 10 per cent increase III
wages was announced. Ut should be men
toned here that in April, between the TWO
strikes the Standard announced another
Increase in wages, the action beng taKeh'
apparently without even a hint from the
workers. Every increase by the Standard
has been met by the other industries Oh
the city,
The Familiar Cost of Living Problem
There is no disposition here to score the
granting of increased wages. The TACT
that they were allowed is presumptive eVi-
dence Of their equity. In no quarter mas
Ibis presumption been challenged. On the
contrary, there is a general recogni'ion
that increased costs of living have maze
Increased wages imperative. The fact re-
mains that two times out of three the com
sanies have acted after violence instead Oh
before violence. To have anticipated II
vould have involved a close study OF the
economic CONDITIONS in the city and tnen
esmprehensive action TO set those condi-
hons right. Bayonne has not taken even
the first step in making this study. There
h lies her failure. the one great cause OF
he turbulence.
VIA. has been said applies TO Bayonne
A. whole-to the major influences in the
nty's life. There are some notable AND
iopeful exceptions. AS yet they have had
tsht influence on the problem as whole.