Wise Action

The older and more conservative labor organizations of the country did wisely in refusing to share with President Debs the responsibility for the colossal blunder, if not crime, whirh he inaugurated. Had he pursued the part of wisdom and advised with these orders before undertaking the foolish enterpnse which he declared would tie up all the railroads of the country, it is probable that the strike would never have been ordered. It would seem that a man of ordinary judgment and discression would have forseen the necessity of united action in such an undertaking, if the resuhs sought were to be obtained. But over-weaning confidence in his ability to succeed without their help, or egotistic desire for all the glory of the undertaking, if it was successful, prevented such a course. The responsibility should therefore rest where it belongs. Besides there was nothing for these zations togain by entering the strike and assuming responsibility therefor, while there was everything to j lose. They had no grievances to i redress and they would therefore have lost the sympathy of the general public, which is of inestimable valué to all labor organizations, by entering npon a course that would have inflicted wide-spread ruin upon the business of the country without possible advantage to anybody. It is well for the cause of labor and for the business interests of the country that wise councils have prevailed. Discression and sound 1 servative judgment are as essential to the interests of labor tions as to all others.