Yesterday marked the 100th anniversary of the horror that was the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, where 146 young women, some as young as 14, and men lost their lives. The fire was a very public illustration of worker neglect and abuse by the factory owners and represented a turning point in public opinion favorable to worker issues.
From an editorial by the Philadelphia Daily News:
OVER THE DECADES, the annual commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire has provided an opportunity to look back from our enlightened time to marvel at the venality of the factory owners whose greed and indifference led to the horrific deaths of 146 people, most of them immigrant women and girls.
But on today’s 100th anniversary of the fire, here’s what’s stunning: How many of the discredited notions that contributed to the tragedy – extreme individualism, rejection of government regulation and fear of union “socialism” – are making a comeback.
Yes, we know only too well of the careful and calculated machinations of our rulers designed to strike fear into the hearts of the masses at the mention of the words union, socialism and liberal. Recently, not one, but two attorneys employed by the people of the State of Indiana lost their jobs over the worker struggle in Madison, Wisconsin, one for the incredible suggestion that live ammunition be used against peaceful protesters, the other for suggesting a false flag operation be conducted to turn public opinion away from worker organizations there. The Wisconsin Republican Party has attacked a respected university professor for his opinions, hoping, no doubt to silence others who would speak out.
Besides, factory owners believed that their factories were strictly private property and that any attempt to impose safety regulations represented an attack on the liberty of the people who drive the economy. Sound familiar? So there were no safety regulations, no minimum-wage law, no prohibition of child labor – until 146 people died.
Quickly acquitted of manslaughter charges by an all-male jury, the two owners actually made $60,000 in insurance money. But the horror touched the conscience of ordinary people, who forced a turning point in labor rights and workplace safety.
Many people assumed there was no going back. Yet the current campaign against collective-bargaining rights of public workers in several states sure looks like a step in that direction. (And U.S. House Republicans recently introduced legislation that would cut off food stamps to an entire family if one of its members is on strike.)
The Wisconsin 14 have returned home, but the Indiana House Democratic Caucus remains in exile in Illinois. Meanwhile, the cancer that is greed continues to spread.
The Guardians Of Privilege will happily return us to the world of the robber barons. Their unspoken motto is, “I got mine – fuck you”.
Same as it ever was.
