The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-08-17
TIE TEARS STRIKES.
The III Luck of the Workinemeo.
'lttsbnrg Telegraph.

Strikes are epidemic nowadays be-
cause under the existing system of
trades unions one strike is very apt to
engender another. There being more
or less sympathy among the trades
organizations, 1t is not infrequently
the case that the fire lighted by the
one extends to the other. The present
year has been exceptionally prolific of
strikes, and it seems that the majority
of them have not been successful. AS
profitable investment for the strikers,
the results obtained can give them no
cause for congratulation. AS sue
cessful and profitably investment for
the strikers, the results thus far OBJ
tanned can certainly give them no
present comfort, and have added little
to the hopes of the future. The con-
dition OF the unfortunate striking op-
eratives and laborers is very much like
that of the King of France, who,
with twice ten thousand men
marched up the hill, and then
marched down again." Taking into
consideration the unusually high
prices for food, rent and the like, the
average wages now paid to the work.
ing classes are, as rule, entirely in
| adequate to the comfortable mainte-
nance of their families. The very
important question whether the
profits of the employer can afford an
increase of wages rarely enters into
the consideration Of labor agitators.
the striking epidemic this year began
In the mills of Fall River, Massachu-
sets, which was Immediately followed
by the operatives in the Lawrence
Mills. These two great manufactur-
ing centers having started the ball,
Choes. n. Y, and other places of
lesser Importance, fell into line, result
ing in about $4,000 mill operatives,
men women and children, becoming
idle consumers and not producers.
After being out for nearly six months,
they have entirely failed to secure
their demands or any concessions
|
valuable time and earnings, they are
forced to resume work just where they
left off. Computing the weekly earn
ings or pay of the mill operatives at
So per capita would give the weekly
earnings of the 25, 900 strikers as $780,
600, equivalent to 100000 per month.
In other words, the six months strike
has cost these mill operatives sum
equal to SS,6OO,OOO, a very large
amount of money indeed. So much
for thi mill operatives.
The next in order among thestrikers
were the Boston piano makers. But
the strike among this class of work
men was confined to but three
factories. In this instance the strikers
were skilled mechanics, class of men
who thought their positions could not
readily be filled by inexperienced
workmen. Instead Of entailing any
serious losses upon the piano manu-.
facturers, this abortive strike enabled
the manufacturers to make rapid sales,
at advanced prices, of all instruments
on hand, by representing that the
strike would preclude the further man
ufacture of pianos for some time
While the strikers idled away their
valuable time and sacrificed wages
amounting to over $4,000 per week
or aggregatiug nearly $4,000, 800 during
| hn In nf cfril he
piano manufacturers "took on" q
number of partially experienced
workmen, and soon instructed them
sufficiently to fill the places of the
strikers, thereby leaving many worthy
but misguided workingmen out in the
cold.
The iron workers of the Pittsburgh
district, next fell into line, and "went
out" on strike. The "Amalgamated
Iron and Steel Workers Association"
constituted the largest, best organized
and wealthiest Labor Union in the
United States. With such powerful
organization the iron workers felt sat
isfied and confident of victory. In
Western cities the strike has proved q
failure, the majority of the men being
compelled to return to work at former
prices after useless loss of much val
liable time and a very large sum OF
money i'm the shape of lost Wages.
Even in Pittsburgh it looks as though
the strikers could not succeed after the
successful starting of such large con.
Germs as the National Tube Works al
McKeesport and the Spang Iron and
Steel Company, which began working
to-day with as many men as they re-
quired. The coal miners and drivers
in some of the Pennsylvania mines
also tried the experiment of getting
up strike, but with no better result
than the other strikers, only useless
loss of time and money without &C
complishing any practical good.
One of the most important of thi:
seasons strikes, because of the obsti
nate determination of the strikers anG
the serious loss and Inconvenience
entailed upan the mercantile commu
nifty, was the strike of the freigh
handlers of New York and Jersey
City. These hard working and poorly
paid men excited the sympathy of al
classes. The press and the public
were with them and their just de