General Prosperity and Industrial Unrest
“EVERY union man in the city now demanding larger share of ‘general prosperity,’” is a headline in the Chicago Tribune of March 16, under which it is stated that “higher wages, shorter hours, and marked concessions in working conditions are demands that will be made before the close of spring on practically every employer of labor who has not previously yielded to his employees.” And further: “From both old and new unions the cry has gone up that this is to be the banner year of trades unionism—the year when the laborer must have his share of what the unions regard as ‘general prosperity.’” Five strikes in that city are already threatened, and the information comes from union labor leaders that the past few months, though exceptional for the industrial disturbances they have brought, “are nothing to what will come.” With such a state of things, “prosperity” ceases to be prosperity, and becomes a thing to be dreaded rather than desired. The beginning of every such period becomes the signal for strikes, lockouts, riots, and industrial disturbances the country over, by which business is paralyzed or thrown into a condition of the greatest uncertainty, and times are made harder for the poor. There is a general grabbing on the part of all industrial classes for a larger share of the “general prosperity,” prompted by that motive which is so characteristic of worldly affairs—selfishness. Selfishness and peace do not go together. Peace is of heavenly origin, and will not prevail on this earth until the kingdom of the Prince of Peace supersedes the kingdoms of this world.