Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1922-07-27
SIGNIFICANCE OF SHOP CRAFTS STRIKE

wages against which others have
struck. Then the pickets usually
begin to persuade them not to Wor <
by beating, stab5ing or killing them.
The present strike has reached this
stage. In every part of the country
attacks by strikers upon men who
have tried to work have been re-
ported. The strike leaders constant
! ly express pious hopes and wishes
/ that there shall be no Violence. Most
OF them are undoubtedly sincere, but
/ the outrages continue. This raises
sauarely the question whether the
I public officials who nave sworn 20
/ enforce the laws have the disposition
and power TO do so. IL raises square
~ the question whether the forces
OF law and order are stronger than
the forces Of lawlessness and dis
order. Usually the forces of law and
order have triumped in this country.
When violence begins in a strike It
almost invariably indicates that the
strikers are losing ground and knC-
it. 1t began early in this strike.
The situation in many respects is
tragic II is depressing 70 realize
that after all the progress that has
been made in increasing the eff
cheney Of industry IL is still impOs-
sible to pay large part OF the work
ers wages sufficient to enable then
to live in reasonable comfort II is
hardly less depressing to realize that
most working men are 50 ignorant
and so badly led they are unaware
that this condition is at least as much
the fault of themselves and their
leaders. as it is of the system Of in
dustTy against which they inveigh
and which many OF them would like
to overthrow. Il is easily cOncsiy-
able that with modern methods and
machinery labor and capital could so
cooperate as in a short time to Sc
cure an increase OF production which
would enable the average worker 10
receive the equivalent in necessaries,
comforts and Injuries OF the 3Z.G37
a year OF which the labor leaders
talk Shortcoming OF human nature,
which yiUiate both labor and man
agement, prevent it. II labor and
capital would both use as much skill
and energy in increasing production
as they do in fighting over the d.
vision Of what is produced the pro-
blems of both would be largely
solved
It is also depressing 20 recall all
the efforts that have been made to
devise means OF peacefully settling
the differences that arise over the
division OF what is produced and than
the situation now *
sting in the United States Business
conditions of other kinds have in
proved so much that, except the
coal strike AID the railway strike. |
he total production Of necessities.
comforts and Injuries in the United
States undoubtedly would be greater
today than il ever was before. These
two strikes, however, which are the
results of efforts to settle b. force
what ought 20 have been settled by
reason, already have prevented
normal and even more than 1crmzl
Increase OF production.
Congress, in adopting the labor
provisions of the Transportation Act,
tried 70 establish means OF peace
fully settling railway labor cO1-ro7-
ersies and of substituting IN this
field. at least, the rule o. reason fcr
me rule Of force. Bdt human nature
cannot be changed by legislative en-
lctmenrs: and the country has upon
It's hands this shop mems strike.
But the laws CT economics are still
IA operation and canaoc 0e repealed
either by statutes or BY force. IN
creased efficiency in production can
enable industry to Fay wages OF much
greater purchasing power. Nothing
2lse can. Strikes interfere with in
,reasei production, ana therefore,
IN the long run hinder increases IN
real wages. As long as thsre are
abor unions that are led by. ami COM
,osed of men who would rather carry
IN strikes and propaganda than help
Increase the efficiency G. production,
re shall continue to have strikes and
most labor unions will continue 70 be
.gencies not for enabling higher
wages TO be paid, but for making
heir payment more difficult.
Railway ASe-July Is, 1922
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