Homestead Strike: Editorial
Author: Ben Widener
There are mixed feeling about the strike in homestead that is still happening. Some say that the strike workers should have their way and get better conditions, or should have. The workers on strike recently got violent when they fought with the Pinkerton detective two days ago and gunshots rang out. The supporters turned against the strike-men as they began to kill people. The National Guard entered the town this morning as well.
I was following the whole story myself and supported labor unions in their fight for better working conditions. I wrote an article on it before too. However, I don’t believe that the labor union/strike workers should resort to violence, murder, and denying other people’s rights to get what they want. However, if you look at it from the strike-men’s perspective the conditions in the factories were unfair. For instance, 14 hour work days, dusty and dangerous conditions, and low pay would make me go on strike if I were in this position. But, violence and killing is still crossing the line and is something that wouldn’t be worth what was at risk. I also don’t think that other labor unions would agree with these actions and would never resort to such unnecessary means of speaking out. I also still hope that working conditions are improved in factories like these.
I think the main result of this strike will be that numerous labor unions will lose power to ensure that this never happens again. I also hope that people learn that violence is not the answer. The factory conditions will probably improve too and that is definitely something that I would like to see.