Evening journal., 1920-04-15
THE sOUIZA W. STRIKE
AND ITS REAL OBJECTIVE
LFrom Lhe phIladeIphIa Publlo Ledgerl

The OUTLAW" strike is properly
named. II is an effort by masked "out-
laws TO destroy the organization that
lies foremost across their path. Presi-
dent Carrier. OF the brotherhood Of
fIremen ana Enginemen. puts The case
clearly. He says that this strike orig
mated In Chicago with "a new organi-
zatlon which has for its purpose the
destruction Of the Brotherhood Of
fallroad Trainmen and the Switch
mems Nnion.' Ultimately, they will
hope TO 'get' the other unions, their
purpose being 10 promote the Ono
Big Union Idea"
The leaders Of organized labor un-
dersiand The situation perfectly They
know that they are the human tar
gels. Tiey know that if they lack
the power. with tho backing OF the
great and loyal unions they represent,
TO strangle this 'outlaw" strike. then
their grip upon the labor situation is
gone, their alleged leadership Is a farce
and their various organizations have
been successfully ''bored from within"
TO a point perllously near collapse.
There IS absolutely no reason TO
doubt the good faith Of the fight they
are putting Up against this insidious.
swiftly spreading, unreasoning revolt.
They are fighting for their Official
lives. Vlce-Presldent Atterbury, OF the
pennsylvania. Railroad. shows no suspi-
cion OF any double-dealiug on their
part In his letter 10 these men. IeI
quite frankly assumes that they are
sensible enough TO be struggling
against a hand reached out TO throttle
them, and asks their cooperation in
folling "the strongest propaganda that
is influencing our men, particularly |
the younger men" "1hs," he said, "is !
the word that is being passed around
that this movement has The support 4,
OF you gentlemen and The organizations !
you represent. but hat, in view OF the /
fear or injunction being served on you |
and your organizations. the strike is
being engineered by word Of mouth
and that no regular orders have been
issued or are 70 be expected
Mr.. Attorbury made ihs appeal 10
all the leading union officials, inviting
them 10 brand this poisonous canard
as lie; and they did so, Immediately,
emphatcally and unanimously.
But the alarming feature Of the az
fair is the rhystlfying manner IN which
a strike-constantly declared not to be
a strike at all-hss spread rapidly
from one city to another until the
whole country Is tied up. accomplish
ing this tremendous result apparently
organization and without
known leaders. Indeed, u accomplishes
this sweeping success 10 the teeth OF
the vigorous opposition OF all known
labor organizations and leaders. The
strike had no FIRST cause worth con-
Us converts throughout the
country have no "caalse" whatever. II
Is as u q aei'en went % war without
even giving a reason. Bad as imperial
Germany was, she did not do that.
It inevitably creates the misgiving
that those who say that this is not
a strike" are right. A strike is a.
'last resort" reached by men who have
grave and real grievances which they
first submit 10 their employers and of
which they are finally denied redress.
These outlaws" present no griev-
ances. They simply walk out" care
millions OF fellow workmen are robbed
" tlhN4b fiutuls. lutIfs - no ctIlht
order" There is no warning. A mys-
ierious whisper, and they are gone.l
Hosiiliiies are begun without a dec
larafion Of war.
II it is not strike what is 70?
Well. 1t proceeds by the method Of
revolution. Men who desired not TO
get higher pay or better working con-
1itions, but to paralyze industry, wreck
society and breed wholesale discomfort,
night deliver just such sudden blows.
L would be absurd and obviously un-
Just, OF course. TO charge that all the
nen who have thus "downed tools"
without previous parley are conscious
y Engaged in preparing the soil for
evolution. Apparently their sense OF
ll-usage has only been played upon
nrewdly by others. But what OF the
'thMs? Are they looking as far ahead
Is revolution? Are they doing the
work which We were told The other
lay Lenine's agents are paying for,
ven in prosperous America?
sStrikes that fail" and are mot too
ong'' were among The methods for ere