Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-06
LOSS BY THE STRIKE.
Some Frozen Facts for the WOrkingmen
10 Consider az this Time.

Philadelphia Times.
From the commencement of this seasons
labor strikes, these regular periodical bat
ties between the workingmen and their EN-
ployers, the press Of the country, almost to
unit, has generously espoused the cause
of the workingman and sided with him in
all his alleged grievances. An immense
mass of conflicting reports and statements
concerning the strikes has occupied the col
umns of the daily papers for the past four
months, but the unwelcome fact remains
that the unfortunate, in many instances
misguided, strikers have been defeated
in about all their efforts. Let us calmly
review the recent labor strikes, and after
carefully examining the "Profit and loss"
statement let US see how much 1t profits the
workingman and womaA to inauguratc and
maintain an unsuccessful strike.
This seasons strike mania commenced
with the Boston piano makers, not so
much for an increase of pay, but because
they were opposed to the manufacturers
EMPLOYING non.union men in their facto-
ries. These piano makers, to the number
of nine hundred, after remaining out on
strike for six weeks and finding that they
could not bring the employers to terms,
cost the piano makers, most Of whom were
skilled workmen commanding salaries ay-
ersging $50 per week, sum equal to $l62,-
coo.
The cotton spinners of Fall River, Mass,
were the next to fall into line, and they
were Immediately followed by their
brethren and sisters of Lawrence, Mass,
and Cohoes, n. Y. These people kept up
a stubborn fight for over four months, only
to give in and return to work just where
they left off, without accomplishing any
thing except loss of valuable time and
much money, besides entailing untold mis-
cry upon themselves and their families. 1t
is computed that upwards OF fourteen thou
sand operatives, representing the strikers
in the cotton and woolen mills OF Fall
River, Lawrence and Cohoes, have been
idle for the past four months. Computing
the average weekly pay of men, women aud
children at $6, which sum is considered by
competent judges as fair average of earn
ings, we find that these misguided mill OPP
eratives have lost or sacrificed the sum of
81, ,344 900 during the past four months.
And what have they gained in return for
this great sacrifice OF their earninIngs?
The freight-handlers of New York, Jersey
City and Boston have been enjoying all the
excitement and discomfort of desperate,
eyen sanguinary war against the transpor-
tatiOn companies for the past three months.
Eight thousand men have been on a strike.
They, like all the other striking working
men, were finally forced to accept the ine-
vitable and submit to circumstances with
out accomplishing any good for themselves.
The average pay of a freight handler, or
'longshoreman, is about $l2 per week, and
the figures show that these hard.working
men have deliberately sacrificed or thrown
away 81, ,152, 900 in futile attempt to prove
that their services were absolutely indis-
pensable.
Nearly eighteen thousand iron-workers,
many Of them skilled artisans, employed
in the various iron-working mills and foun-
dries, were induced by their leaders to 60
out on strike and defy the employers. They
have been on strike for over three months
and have failed in their demands. This
formidable strike, which at one time prom
ised to revolutionize the iron manufactur-
ing interests of the country, cost the mem
bers of the Amalgamated Iron and Steel
Workers Union the immense sum OF 81
800, 600 in wages alone.
About 500 stone-cutters undertook to see
what they could do by getting up strike.
After sacrificing S2l5,0OO in wages and
gaining nothing they wisely decided to re-
turn TO work. Some 400 glass blowers and
GOO potters tried the same doubtful expert
ment with the same result, the two trades
sacrificing s265, 900 to profit and loss. Then
a considerable number of coal miners yari-
ously estimated at 5000 to 1000, tried their
hand at going out. After contributing
nearly $40, 900 to the profit and loss account
they quietly gave up the improbable
struggle and resumed work. %
From the facts above stated it appears
that the only result accomplished by the
workingmen in the various labor strikes
inangurated this season is the loss Of much
valuable time and the sacrifice Of nearly
$500. 900 in the shape of wages which they
could have earned had the strikes not been
instituted. o.,