The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-08-07

twas MADE to operate cars until It was
officially declared off.
Had Right to Strike.
If the street railway employees, or
ganized or lmorganized, had a xriev-~
ance and they could not settle it in
any other way, they had a perfect
right to strike. II the men wanted to
lend themselves to pull the company's
cneatnuts out Of the fire that is their
business. They have right as own
ers Of their labor power to do any,
thing they want with it, providing
they keep within the law. We might
doubt their wisdom, but we will not
dispute their right.
But what was the issue in this case?
The people of Duluth recently voted
down an ordinance to permit the city
commissioners to authorize the Duluth
Street Railway company to charge a.
six-cents fare. Later, the employees
asked for an increase in wages. Tho
Officers OF the company said they
could not pay higher wages unless and
until they were given the right to
raise the fare. There was nothing
said In the Ordinance that was voted
down about giving any portion Of the
Increased revenue to the men.
First Ever Held.
Then followed series Of confer
ences, the first Of their kind ever held
by and between the employees and tho
officials Of the company. A strike
vote was taken. a thing never per-
mitted before by Mr.. Warren, and It
was resolved to strike on July %.
Overnight a change was agreed upon.
and the strike ordered to be called on
July 21, one week earlier than orig
inal1y decided upon. It lasted one
day; the city commissioners capitu-
lated; they agreed to the introduction
OF an ordinance which would be sub
m1tted to the people after initiative
petitions shall have been properly
presented; the men returned to work,
car service was resumed and every
body seemed pleased.
The strike was not settled bv and
between the men and. the officers of
the company, but with the city COM
missioners. While upon it's surface
it was a strike for higher wages
the city of Duluth to pass an ordi-
nance to permit the Duluth Street
Railway company to raise its fare
from five to six cents. It was a strike
to enforce a political demand.
just as in Europe.
That is the way the Bolshevists do
it over in Europe. When they can't
get what they want from the govern
ment in any other way they call a
strike and force the government to
terms A short while ago a number
Of workingmen in the unions, and
there were lot Of them, voted to call
a nationwide strike of protest against
the imprisonment of Tom Mooney IN
California. That would have been q
political strike. The newspapers 50
declared it, and held at the same time
that it was un-American.
Strikes among public employees are
unpopular in the United States for
the reason that they enjoy the right
OF suffrage and have a remedy in
the ballot. In private industry It is
different. mo person can be depfived
Of his life, liberty of property with
out due process of law" and no meas
ure can be passed that will impair
the obligation of contract. It is not
within the province of government to
regulate wages, hours Of labor and
working conditions in private employ
ment( except as such may affect the
public health or welfare. So the only
recourse is in q strike when employers
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