The American Steel Trust appears to be winning its contest
with the workers in steel. The latter did not hold together, Chicago, for example, deserting them, and the non-unionists, instead of helping their rivals as those rivals expected, showed readiness to fill their places. The strike, therefore, is col- lapsing, with much loss to its leaders in credit and influence, and Mr. Pierpont Morgan, who is evidently a fighting man, is said to declare that in future he will not negotiate with Unions unless they accept charters of incorporation, and can be sued for damages for breaches of agreement. This demand, if conceded, might at first strengthen the Unions, but it would speedily change their character, as it would make them practically great contractors for labour under effective responsibilities. The conditions of life in America seem on the whole unfavourable to Unionism. Wages are high, there is no general Poor-law, and the Federal system interferes with unity of tone. Their great disadvantage, however, is the almost universal hopefulness. When every man looks forward to being a master, he regards the men's demands, in part at least, from the master's point of view. We imagine, too, though we do not assert this, that the position of foremen, who are very influential, is much better in the States than in England.
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