STRIKES AND AGITATORS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 37, 7 October 1912, Page 4

STRIKES AND AGITATORS.

Discussing strikes and agitators tin “Mercantile Gazette” remarks that there are, generally speaking, twc classes of people in the world—those who employ and those who are employed, and until very recent years the former was considered as one who was doing some good in the world by using his money in finding employment for those who wanted work. The writer remembers some years ago listening to a discussion between two men with regard to their money. The one stated, that he lent his out at interest, that he did nothing himself, carried on no business but spent his time in travelling and in looking after thought that was about the poorest use his investments. The other sid he one could make of money, and when this remark was met by a question, “And what then do you do with your money?” the reply came, “I keep nearly four hundred men going on my steamers, stores, and plantations, all

earning good livings, and am assisting them to bring up their wives and families with comfort—that is more than you are doing.” The answer did not perhaps prove that the man who was lending his money at interest was not also assisting to find work, but there was a great difference between the two methods of investment. The one took a risk, the other eliminated as far as was possible every scintilla of danger. At tho present time an attempt is being made, the ‘Gazette” goes on to say, to hold the employer out, not as a benefactor, but as one who is robbing his workers of that which by right is theirs. A workman seeking to convert his one and only asset into coin, asks .for employment, which he receives, and immediately finds himself earning money, he is content and the employer has the same feeling, but the agitator comes along and immediately sets himself to prove to the workman that he is being imposed upon, that Ins wages are too low, the conditions under which he is living would shame a Chinaman, and that everything must be altered. Commonsense would suggest that if the workman has any serious complaint to make lie would see the employer and submit his grievances, or perhaps quietly move away to some other situation where he would find himself in more congenial surroundings. He personally would he inclined to remain where lie is, that which he wants above everything else is his daily pay ,and to obtain that he is willing to do an honest day’s work, but the labour agitator says, “You place yourself in my hands and I will get you more than you are now receiving and will also improve your working conditions beyond recognition.” The men accept the conditions and give np their wage. They cease employment and remain idle until strike pay is used up, when, in most cases, they resume their work under the existing conditions if they have not long before taken themselves off to other parts. At present they are under the heel of the agitator. But how long can this condition of things continue to exist? The answer is clear, only until the pendulum of prosperity Swings to the other side. . A sharp rise of interest, a permanent tightening of the money market, any unexpected event which tends to decrease even for a time the exports of the country, and the whole edifice upon which labour is built must crumble I ' ' ! I ‘ I ! away, , . , . .