The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-04-10 00:00:00

STRIKES IN AMERICA. •

Writing from Philadelphia on March 16, the Correspondent
of The Times, in noticing the agitation in the labour market
says:—
The labour agitation in the United States for
advanced wages is increasing, and although many
employers grant the advance, others firmly resist it
Hence extensive strikes are going on, and others are
threatened. The strike in the Pennsylvania bitu-
minous coal region (Clearfield), heretofore announced,
continues without prospect of settlement. .
The uneasiness in the iron trade in Pennsylvania
has broken out in several strikes, the-chief being that
of the puddlers. Concessions of advanced wages have
kept the workmen employed in Philadelphia, Pitts-
burg, Allentown, and some other places where there
are large furnaces whose owners are so pressed by
orders that they will concede almost anything to
keep work moving, but this rule does not prevail
everywhere. With many ironmasters the belief
is that the " boom " has seen its highest point, and
that the recent great advance in prices is about to
be followed by a reaction. Hence they are un-
willing to advance wages further, and as the summer
is approaching and hard work has told on their fur-
naces, they are not unwilling to let the fires go out to
get a chance for repairs. 'The puddlers want 20 per
cent. and after negotiating some time for it without
success, they have started a concerted strike in the
interior of Pennsylvania extending along the line of
the Pennsylvania Railroad from Columbia west to
Johnstown a distance of over 200 miles, and involving
57 establishments employing in all capacities over
7,000 men. They met last week at Duncannon, near
Harrisburg, and determined to demand an advance from
5 dols per ton, the present rate, to 6 dols. The ironmasters
were willing to give 5 dols. 50tents per ton, but this
was not accepted, and the strike began yesterday,
the puddlers being confident they can before long
cnforee their demand, while the ironmasters protest
that the shaky condition of the iron market will not
warrant more than the compromise rate they proposed.
A similar strike began at Buffalo, New York, yester-
day, affecting about 400 men, the puddlers in the
Union Iron Works demanding an advance from 5 dols.
50c. per ton now paid to 6 dols. 25c. An auxiliary
strike vrevails at Reading, Pennsylvania, among the
moulders, who ask 20 per cent. advance, 150 moulders
striking. These strikes do not affect any of our
Bessemer rail mills, all of which are working, in-
cluding the Vulcan mill at St. Louis, which has been
idle several years.
A curious strike has been started at the Lorillard
Tobacco Factory in Jersey City, the most extensive
tobacco establishment in the *United States, and em-
ployino• several thousand hands. The employes are
require% to consent to the searching of their persons
and houses at any time by the agents of the firm, and
to sign an agreement to waive claims for damages against
their employers for injuries received while in their em-
ployment. The hands struck against these requirements,
and have been idle some time. They have been holding
exciting mass meetings in Jersey City, and get much
popular sympathy. Many other strikes, present
and prospective, are noted. The carpenters of
Newark, New Jersey, have struck for an advance from
2 dols. to 2 dols. 25e. per day, and most employers
have conceded it. The Newark bricklayers ask 50c.
per day advance on April 1, and say it will be given.
All hands on the Cumberland and Pennsylvania, Rail-
road struck yesterday for 20 per cent. advance. They
were offered 10 per cent., but nearly all refused it.
They ask that ten hours be declared a day's work, and
that conductors (guards) be paid 2 dols. 75c. per day,
engine-drivers 3 dols. 50c., and brakesmen and stokers
2 dols. 25c. The lathers of New York have all
gone to work, securing the advance demanded.
'The New York boxmakers are partially on strike
for 15 per cent. advance. The tailors, shoemakers,
brass-founders, and painters of that city are hold-
ing meetings to revive their defunct trade unions and
get ready to demand more wages. The New York
bricklayers, now generally getting 2 dols. 50c. per day
will demand 3 dols. in April. The uneasiness in the
building trades has led some New York employers to
already concede this advance. Between the advanced
wages and materials, house building this year will
cost at least 30 per cent. more in most American
cities than it did last year. In Philadelphia the'
carpet weavers have, just secured 10 per cent, ad-
vance without a strike; many of the shoemakers
are getting 10 to 25 per cent. more pay ; and the
brickmakers, a most extensive industry here, are
promised an advance in April, when active business
opens. The tailors, coachmaKers, blacksmiths, and
wheelwrights of this city are all agitating preliminary
to asking more wages. In Chicago, the furniture
frame makers, 400 in number, yesterday struck for 15
per cent. advance. In reference to these trade move-
ments it may be remarkcd that the demand for more
pay is generally founded on justice. Living expenses
are largely increased, and it is impossible to get the
necessfaries of life now for anything like last year's
prices.

AT THE HUSTINGS.

"Speech is silver'', silence golden," .
To the young man said the old 'on.

And methinks 'tin most like copper
When the speakers "come a cropper."—Fun.