Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-28
Useless Waste and Loss

MO great Industrial upheaval in many
years has caused as little general con-
Germ in this country that Of tho steel
workers. The average individual seems in
different to the outcome except as it may in
some indirect fashion involve his own in
terests. There is none of that deep interest
and none OF that alarm felt in this affair that
might ordinarily be expected in a clash OF
such gigantic forces as are arrayed against
each other in this contest.
The government itself has not interviewed
in the vigorous and decisive fashion that
might have been looked for. Certainly it has
shown none OF the activity that marked the
threatened strike of the railway brotherhoods
Just before the country went to war. The
President. after one futile effort to bring
about a settlement, seems to have given the
case up. AT least he did not permit the
threatened wakout to interfere with his
Western trip. And Congress, which egs-
lated almost overnight in behalf of the eight
hour working day for the railroad employees,
has done no more than to authorize one Of
It's beleted Investigations, another post
mortem inquest.
The explanation OF this curious situation
may be found in the fact that no great prin-
ciple is involved in the steel strike; appeal
is made to the sympathies Of the American
people. and feeling exists that it was
necessary for tens of thousands of men to
Quit their Jobs. In other words this strike
seems to be an utterly useless and senseless
proceeding. On no common-sense ground has
the loss 1t involves been justified.
If there were thousands of underpad men
engaged In the iron AID steel industry; If
there were countless women and children
starving because of the policy of soulless
corporation; IL the lives of men were being
ground out of them by the mill owners, the
people OF the country would be quick to offer
their sympathy and support to the workers
and that sympathy and support in a meas
urably short time would compel the steel
companies to surrender. OF that there can
be no possible doubt
These conditions do not exist. The steel
workers are being paid better wages than
most of them dreamed of few years ago.
Living conditions are better than they ever
have been and better than in 90 per cent
OF the other industrial centers of the coun-
try. The hours Of labor seem to be salts
factory. In fact, the workers have presented
no specific list Of grievances whatever.
What is the strike about therefore? Why
have thousands Of men quit work? What
do they want? The answer is as their own
leaders made 1t, that recognition Of their
union is the paramount issue. These agi-
t".ors want and demand that the owners of
the steel mills treat with them instead of
with their employees direct. In order to
hold their followers in line these labor
leaders have held out the most extrayaga nt
prospects to the men.
Because of these facts the general public
seems content to let the mill owners and the
mill employees fight it out The clash seems
to have been inevitable. The test of strength
mad to come soon or late and now that il
has come the people and the government see
no reason why the forces should not 20 to
the mat. Unfortunately, the innocent by
stander in this case as in all others of like
nature must suffer also. The general public
cannot escape. 1t must pay part of the price