p. 9 | In the Balkans

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 29, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 17.

In the Balkans

The power companies that are now taking water from the Niagara Falls to produce electricity, and the companies that have filed applications for permits to do the same, will soon, it is said, reduce the volume of the falls by at least one-fifth. At this rate, it will not be long until the greater part of the flow will be diverted, and the beauty of the great falls will be sacrificed to utility.

In the Balkans.—It is impossible to predict what may occur at any time in the Balkan States when an apparently insignificant act may precipitate a terrible conflict. The entire population of Macedonia, except the Bulgarians who are living there, are said to be armed and ready for an uprising. The revolutionists claim to have 100,000 men who will take the field the latter part of April. There is no doubt that war would now be in progress had it not been for the warning of Russia and Austria, and they are still trying to hold the threatened uprising in check. But Russia’s consul has been killed at Mitrovitza by an Albanian soldier, and Turkey has merely imprisoned the soldier for fifteen years, not daring to do more because the bodyguard of the sultan is composed of Albanians. His chief counselors also are Albanians. Russia is reported to regard the punishment of the Albanian soldier as almost equivalent to an insult. Under ordinary circumstances she would not be disposed to regard it as adequate reparation. She may accept it, however, in view of her desire at the present time to prevent hostilities. In the meantime a reign of terror exists in the Balkan States among the inhabitants themselves. Frequent massacres are reported on the part of both factions. A Bulgarian band is reported to have massacred all the inhabitants of a Mussulman village, numbering 165, with the exception of a very few who escaped by flight; and the Turks are reported to have massacred the inhabitants of one entire village. The Bulgarian minister of war has gone to the frontier to perfect arrangements for preventing further Bulgarian bands from entering Turkey, and the Russian and Austrian governments believe in their ability to prevent matters from coming to a crisis. On the other hand, the king of Servia has declared that fateful times are approaching and that Servia must be ready to strike at the proper moment. The Turks are massing troops in “Old Servia,” and King Alexander of Servia states that he will be compelled to do the same. The Albanians are holding as hostages the men sent by the sultan to pacify them. In view of the jealousies of the powers, the prospect of a war in the Balkans is regarded as a very serious matter.

America and the Powers.—A report from Washington states that Germany and Great Britain have proposed to the United States that it join them in a demonstration against the government of Guatemala to enforce a settlement of that country’s foreign obligations. Secretary Hay replied to the proposition, declining to join in the proposed action, but declaring it to be America’s purpose to guarantee to her citizens in Guatemala whatever benefits might be obtained for English or German citizens in that country by such action on the part of the powers named. At the International Agricultural Congress recently held in Rome, Italy, at which representatives of the various European governments were present, a proposition was put forward for a sort of confederation of European nations to check American competition. There was diversity of opinion on the matter, and it was finally decided to postpone action until the next congress.

Labor Items.—The executive board of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, which met in Indianapolis April 13, had booked for consideration 350 strikes in the United States. The great strikes of laborers in Holland have been declared off, the strikers having given up the fight. By a law just passed as an urgency measure, the whole military and naval power of the kingdom may be called out to prevent strikes on government railroads. The appellate division of the New York Supreme Court has decided that a labor union has no right to order its men to quit work where the only question at issue is the refusal of an employer to recognize the union or its representative. A St. Petersburg despatch of April 8 says that thirty persons were killed and a hundred injured during labor disturbances at Nijni Novgorod, Russia. The union labor leaders of Los Angeles are dissatisfied because no arrangement has been made for their review by President Roosevelt, on his approaching visit to that city. They have written to the President direct that they have been ignored, and desire him to review a parade of labor unions in the evening. On the other hand the secretary of the committee says there has been no ignoring of any one, as no civil organization has been invited to participate in the parade. He says the President had asked that there be no long parade, and that the public function be brief. The strike at the Gwin mine, at Paloma, Amador County, Cal., is said to be over, the superintendent conceding a nine-hour day. But he refused a raise of wages or to recognize the union. He will treat all classes alike. The people of the town had urged the men to go to work, and they would have done so, but the union would not agree to it. However, when the superintendent began making arrangements for a permanent closing of the mine, the employees came to him for terms. An attempt to unionize mill hands at Clovis, Fresno County, Cal., failed because the movement was opposed by half the employees and discouraged by the employers. The American mechanics at Hilo, H. T., have organized against the Asiatics, and petitioned the Legislature to license contractors and mechanics, and to issue such licenses only to citizens of the United States. The Association of Manufacturers, in convention at New Orleans, have devoted much time to a discussion of the labor question, and adopted a code of principles. They are not opposed to organizations of labor, but are opposed to boycotts, blacklists, and interference with the personal liberty of employers and employees. They also declare that “no limitation should be placed upon the opportunities of any person to learn any trade to which he or she may be adapted.” At Cleveland, Ohio, April 15, fifty striking firemen boarded a steamer from Duluth, and beat in a horrible manner three non-union firemen employed on the boat. In Vermont a manufacturing company has been awarded damages against strikers because of a boycott, and the property of the members of the union has been attached for the judgment. An appeal has been taken.

A race riot occurred in Joplin, Mo., on April 15. A negro had killed an officer, and a mob soon had him swinging to a telegraph pole; but this did not satisfy the fury of the mob, who practically took possession of the city, so far as order was concerned. The mayor and the police force were powerless to quell the riot. The mayor ran from corner to corner, and mounted boxes, arguing with the crowd to preserve the peace; but all authority was swept aside, and the mob drove the negroes into the negro quarter. Then the mob charged on the negro quarter, smashing windows and doors, and actually setting fire to a number of houses. The fire department turned out and the rioters sought to prevent the firemen from extinguishing the flames. In this they were partially successful, and several of the houses were consumed. The report states that “apparently a frenzy had seized the people, and the whole city was in an uproar.” Every colored person was driven out of the city. The increase of such scenes as this is a striking sign of our times. Violence is in the air, and the people are being taught more and more to resort to it in the accomplishment of their objects. It is seen in the boycotts, and in all the labor controversies, in robberies and frauds and embezzlements, in murders and unjust prosecutions; and we will see more and more of it as greed and cruelty increase in the service of self.

A new association was recently formed at Indianapolis, styled the American Association of Independent Merchants. The purpose of the organization is to protect non-union men who do not care to affiliate with unions, to encourage industry, economy, thrift, and honesty among its members; to maintain amicable relations between employees and employers; to assist its individual members in obtaining the highest wages consistent with the general good; to promote all forms of productive energy; to prevent all unjust discriminations against any person; to furnish favorable conditions for apprentices; to provide trade educations for members, and to compel labor unions to observe and respect the laws. The organizers are men who are connected with the non-union unions already in existence, and the idea of a national organization grows out of a request from employers and employees in many States that such a national organization should be formed. Similar articles will be filed in a number of States, and the non-union unions formed at Anderson, Muncie, Columbus, and other places, will be affiliated with the national body. And so the unionizing of hostile forces goes on. Instead of unionism bringing men together for mutual benefit and general harmony, it is bringing hostile organizations into battle array, setting them in order to strive for the mastery. Only a union with Christ, in charity for all, can effect a real “bond of peace.”

Extensive frauds have been unearthed in the administration of affairs in Porto Rico. Serious charges have been preferred against officials high in the service there. For some reason not satisfactorily explained there has been pressure from officials of the home government upon the officials of Porto Rico to stop the prosecutions in the matter. The insular police have taken possession of the city of Mayaguez and displaced the municipal police because of frauds in connection with the expenditure of a $200,000 loan, and a number of the city officials have been arrested. A Missouri grand jury has issued indictments against seven persons, some of whom are State senators, for bribery in connection with certain bills in the Legislature. Another get-rich-quick concern has been discovered in Chicago and its promoters arrested, but not until they had made many thousands of dollars by inducing people to buy stock in their concern. An investigation of the books of the Metropolitan Street Railroad Company, of New York City, is reported to have shown fraudulent transactions to the extent of $30,000,000. This money was reported from time to time paid out for work that never was done, or for the settlement of bills that had already been paid, and the money was then appropriated by those who made the fraudulent entries.

In the Philippines.—After three days’ fighting, the American forces in the island of Mindanao have captured the stronghold of the Moros. In the battle it is reported that 100 of the Moros were killed and many more wounded. Eleven Americans were wounded. The sultan of Bacolod has fled, and it is believed that this battle has put an end to regular armed resistance in that island. Bandit bands, however, are reported in operation in different parts of the Philippines, and there will probably be a continuance of such acts for many years to come.