The managers of the great American "Trusts," with their grand
schemes and immense fortunes and overwhelming obviousness, have roused American workmen to a struggle which, whatever the pretext, is really one for power. Every telegram this week has been full of strikes, some for wages, some for hours, and some for "union principles" only ; but the great central battle is between the Steel Trust and the one hundred and sixty thousand workmen or so that it directly or indirectly controls. The latter insist that non- unionist men shall not be employed, and as the managers cannot give way on this point, the battle is likely to be a bitter one. This time has been chosen because there are many con- tracts to be worked off, and because the fall in the price of shares which always follows a strike will greatly worry the millionaires. We have little sympathy with either side, for the unionist demand has tyranny in it, and the Trustmakers are seeking monopoly, but we should say that on this occasion the capitalists would win. The Poor-law is not an American institution, and the capitalists can stand losses which would ruin the unions. The chance of the latter is in creating a panic among -the feebler shareholders, but we fancy that immense blocks of shares are still in the hands of the very wealthy. Still, the revolt of the men exposes to the market an unanticipated risk which will cheek Trustina,king.
